Keiki and Mama Phal - how to care for both!

[Lailamarafie]

Hey guys,
My orchid had a baby! I kind of neglected this orchid (given to me by a florist who made my mums wedding bouquet) and let the baby grow for about a year. It was living with my sister whilst I was between addresses.
Anyway, once I'd moved, I took the Keiki off and potted it- it's just about to flower which is exciting! But the mama just seems a little sad, giant leaves, she grew a new leaf about 2 months ago, a couple of roots came.. but that's it. Is there any special care she might need. Did they baby zap it's energy and nutritiants?
Thank you!
Laila x

[camille1585]

What makes you think the mother plant is not doing well? If it grew a leaf and some roots, its sounds like happy, normal Phal growth. Two more posts and then you'll be able to add photos.

[Lailamarafie]

hmmmm, not sure really!! But thank you for the reassurance! Is there anything special I should be doing since removing the baby plant?

[camille1585]

If the plant was healthy when it produced the keiki (ie, not a last ditch attempt at survival) usually the plant stays healthy while keiki develops, if you continued to feed and water regularily. So basically you can just carry on with your normal routine.

The only time I had problems with a healthy plant producing keikis was when it keikied/bloomed itself to death. Every spike would produce blooms for over a year, and usually 1-2 keikis after that, and each year it put out 1-2 extra spikes, until I had a 6 spike blooming and keiki machine monster. Then the plant suddenly crashed, apparently exhausted from all that activity, and I couldn't save it (but have 3 happily growing keikis from it)

[Lailamarafie]

It seemed pretty healthy, it was huge - the flowers were over 10cm across and it just kept flowering, I assumed they were so big because it was used in the florist for bouquets etc. It stayed in bloom for months, I can't even remember how long but it was ages.

Once the flowers dropped off I noticed it doing something odd, and that was the keiki, then, and this is where I thought I slipped up, the keiki started to flower. Because my sister was looking after it I didn't see it for a while and once I'd noticed it start to flower I just let it get on with it!! They lasted for ages too! Once they finally died back, I wanted to get it off and before I knew it the keiki was spiking again. So I quickly got it off and potted it, it's about to flower any moment. That is why I wondered if I'd zapped the mama...

If the mama states to spike again and I notice another keiki what's the best thing to do? Let it grow, or take off before it develops?

I'm don't claim to know much about orchids but seem to be fairly natural with them working on instinct and I feel like phals are pretty easy going!

Thanks! Laila x

[camille1585]

When the plant spikes again and if there's a keiki, I'd let it grow if the plant is apparently healthy, unless you really don't want any more keikis! (They do make nice gifts for plant loving friends/family though). I'd only get wary if the plant starts multitasking too much (multiple spikes).

[greenpassion]

Wow Laila! That sounds like a super nice phal! I've had spike kiekies and basal kiekies, and have always removed the spike keiki once it developed long enough roots. Leaving them on the mom wasn't really considered...but after reading your success, should I have more spike kiekes, I'll leave them on. And Camille, OMG. I dream to have a phal with more than 3 spikes! You must certainly be doing things right

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by greenpassion

Wow Laila! That sounds like a super nice phal! I've had spike kiekies and basal kiekies, and have always removed the spike keiki once it developed long enough roots. Leaving them on the mom wasn't really considered...but after reading your success, should I have more spike kiekes, I'll leave them on. And Camille, OMG. I dream to have a phal with more than 3 spikes! You must certainly be doing things right

This was the plant when it had 6 spikes (4 flowering- one of which also had a keiki) and 2 old spikes with keikis. Blooms last 6-8 months on this Phal, probably because of the thick waxy substance of the blooms. The plant committed suicide a couple months after this photo. The second photo is the mature keikis in bloom. The commercial name is Phal Pink Panther, I never did find out if it has a real registered name.


Phal. Pink Panther by Camille, on Flickr


Phal. Pink Panther by Camille, on Flickr

[greenpassion]

Beautiful! I aspire to grow such phals!!

---------- Post added at 10:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:54 AM ----------

What exactly happens when a plant commit suicide? Does it just look like a regular rapid death of leaves? I've never had a plant get to the point of exhaustion, or old age I suppose. So I've never seen it.

[estación seca]

Wow, Camille, that plant is incredible! Be sure and propagate it and give it to other good growers. Seems like a great clone.