To Keiki or not to Keiki?

[DejaVoo]

Hopefully the photo will show...
This was my first orchid, a Phel NoID somebody gave me as a gift. It has always resisted dying at my hands, in spite of many rookie mistakes, and has come from the brink a few times. I am a bit stumped about what to do with it. Almost a year ago, after I cut the flowering spike above a node, it proceeded to grow another horizontal spike, and from it a little keiki. Somewhere in the middle of this process the plant got very stressed as a result of a bad repotting, lost a lot of roots, and thankfully was able to recover eventually. Never dropped the keiki but it never grew roots either. Recently I saw some growth at the base, but it was not a root, but a tiny flower spike. I cut it off thinking it would encourage roots to grow, and now seems to be hellbent on growing TWO little flower spikes.
I am going to let the plant get its way and flower (mostly I am rather curious what it would look like), but I am wondering if after flowering I should just cut off the flower spike at the base and do away with the keiki... or is there a way to persuade it to grow roots?
keep the keiki or cut the spike off?

[bil]

Personally I couldn't be bothered with it. It will take a long time to flower, and why would you want a second NOID? Now if it were a rare, expensive plant, then fine.

Alternatively if you just want the experience as a learning event, then there's that of course.

[DejaVoo]

It is a fair question... I definitely want the learning experience (what better than a cheap NoId to learn on) and then there is the sentimental value - the plant was given to me as a bereavement gift when my mother died.
And incidentally... I see you are in Spain? hello from a expat Spaniard here!

[bil]

Originally Posted by DejaVoo

It is a fair question... I definitely want the learning experience (what better than a cheap NoId to learn on) and then there is the sentimental value - the plant was given to me as a bereavement gift when my mother died.
And incidentally... I see you are in Spain? hello from a expat Spaniard here!

I forgot the sentiment potential.

So where in Spain are you from?

[Roberta]

I'd say "let it keiki"... you can leave them on the plant, they can make their own flowers. More flowers...what's not to like? If the spike below the keiki dies back and the keiki develops roots, then separating it would be fine. But if the spike holding the keiki is green, if it were my plant, I'd leave it.

[DejaVoo]

Originally Posted by bil

So where in Spain are you from?

Granada, I have been in the States for over 20 years though

[nicola]

Hi,
it seems that your plant is very determined.
Unfortunately I can not see the picture.
How many leaves on the keiki?
However I suggest you to be patient, enjoy the bloom, and then see what happens
ciao Nicola

[bil]

Originally Posted by DejaVoo

Granada, I have been in the States for over 20 years though

Ah, we are in the Cadiz region, after moving here from the UK.

[gngrhill]

I would also leave the keiki on. I have grown keikis and they only take a couple of years to bloom. On the other hand, they do make a keiki rooting paste similar to keiki paste, but made to help produce roots. I think Repotme.com has it.

[No-Pro-mwa]

Perhaps try posting a picture now that you have 5 posts. I would leave it also and get some kelp to help with it growing roots. How big of a pot is it in?