Keikies on Dendrobium

[Jungeoma]

How mature do Keikies on Dendrobium need to be before they should be detached.

[Ray]

My standard rule-of-thumb is to wait until they have about 4" of total root length.


Ray Barkalow
firstrays.com

[Jungeoma]

Thanks Ray, they have a ways to go.

[WhiteRabbit]

and - it doesn't hurt to leave them on longer, so long as the parent is healthy.

I can't say for all Dens, but on some of mine, keikis left on the parent will bloom right along with the parent at the next bloom cycle, even if the keiki is very young.

[Jungeoma]

It's a Comet King 'Akatsuki'. Beeing a Newbe, I was not sure what to do with it when it got done blooming and the little stubs it formed turned into Keikies. But I guess they are not such a bad thing. I finally read enough here on the Forum and other places to figure out what I did wrong. So hopefully next fall I will be better informed and keep the Dends cooler.

[Joseia]

Wish my Den. Proud Appeal 'Ace' would throw out a keiki. I thought I finally had one when I saw a growth come out the side of the cane, below the top leaves. But it turned out to be a flower spike. Had no idea the plant could spike from down there!

[Jungeoma]

Originally Posted by Joseia

Wish my Den. Proud Appeal 'Ace' would throw out a keiki. I thought I finally had one when I saw a growth come out the side of the cane, below the top leaves. But it turned out to be a flower spike. Had no idea the plant could spike from down there!

It seems you get a Keiki when you do everything wrong, like keeping the plant too warm in the fall and watering it and not letting it rest. I saw nubs coming on mine and thought they were flowers and got all exited and they turned into Keikies. Nothing wrong with that, thou, gives me an other plant.