Softcane dendrobium keikis.

[bil]

After reading on here that too much nitrogen can initiate keikis, I have made sure that mine, when I got them were on a strict 20-20-20 diet, weakly, weekly. However, now that the flowers are over on this one and the new growth is kicking in, so too are the keikis.

So, what do I do? Is it best to remove them? Sooner, or later, when they are able to self support? If you don't remove them what does it do to the plant?

Suggestions please.

[WhiteRabbit]

You can do whatever you like with them. Leaving them on the parent does no harm unless the parent is in bad shape.

[Hiester]

Yep. And keikis might just bloom right there on the mother plant if left in place. Also, as with any orchid division, a keiki is the same age as the mother plant, unlike a seedling from the same mother plant would be, therefore the keiki may bloom a bit faster when potted up on its own.

[james mickelso]

wait until the keiki has roots that are at least 2 inches long. They should be mature by then so they can support the plant. They will bloom on the next bloom cycle. Whether the new growth is a keiki or a basil growth, they are virtually the same. new growth.

[bil]

OK thanks. So, no biggie, and only cut off if they spoil the plant shape, or I want new plants.

For some reason the tone of what I read was most negative concerning them, and I assumed they would have a negative effect on the blooming, ie that the plant would have keikis instead of blooms.

[james mickelso]

No. Blooms and keikis are produced by the plant separately and usually don't bear on each other. The cane is producing progeny two different ways that's all. It will produce both. In the case of phals if it is a terminal keiki I am pretty sure that is the end of the plant. Basel keikis are only the plants way of having kids as well as flowers. Pretty kool stuff actually.