Phalaenopsis Species that Produces Basal Keikis

[Ki6bud]

Can you please name a few phalaenopsis species that produce basal keikis and are easy to grow?

[SundayGardener]

I have a NOID phal that in the past year has produced 3 basal keikis and blooms almost continuously. I am guessing that it has large percentage of Phal equestris in its breeding. AND it has been very easy going.

Because I find it such a fuss-free, thoroughly enjoyable phal, I have since purchased two labelled equestris, and I eyeball others with equestris as a parent quite a lot.

Popular opinion seems to be that the blooms are unexceptional, they are definitely not as large or showy as the monster phals frequently on display, but I think they are dainty and cute. And continuous!

The plants themselves have been staying small (bonus for me), the leaves are on the petite side. Unlike those hulking droopy monsters with the show-off blooms. In case you can't tell, I like them quite a bit.

[Ki6bud]

This NoID has produced over 10 basal keikis. The good side is that you obtain multiple flower spikes. I will update the picture when it blooms. I counted about 25 potential blooms.

[fishmom]

I have a Phal. fasciata that has multiple growths and also makes keikis on the spikes.

[MrHappyRotter]

Phalaenopsis pulcherrima is the most reliable basal keiki producing species I'm aware of.

[Ki6bud]

What's interesting is that each basal keiki splits and literally unfolds through the base of an existing leaf. I checked out both Phalaenopsis pulcherrima and Phal. fasciata. The flower resembles more to the Phalaenopsis pulcherrima.

[orchidsarefun]

Phal equestris produces keiki's at the end of spikes - like clockwork. That's better than a basal keiki as they can be removed.

[mook1178]

I have a hybrid that is apparently known for basal keikis. Check out this thread that I created and got some great info when I first received the plant.

Ordered a Phal Yu Pin Natsume w/possible keiki

[Ki6bud]

Thanks Mook1178. I wonder if cut flower growers use this genetic trait to produce more flower spikes in a smaller foot print?

[MrHappyRotter]

Originally Posted by Ki6bud

Thanks Mook1178. I wonder if cut flower growers use this genetic trait to produce more flower spikes in a smaller foot print?

If you found even a single example of someone using a species or hybrid that has a propensity to produce basal keikis, then the answer to your question is yes. It seems unlikely that nobody has ever used P. pulcherrima (or one of its hybrids) for cut flowers.

However, I doubt it's widely occurring. The hybrids used in the cut flower trade tend to be the same large flowered complex hybrids favored in the potted plant trade. The species that produce lots of basal keikis tend to have small flowers and other drawbacks, and by the time they've been hybridized enough to produce acceptably large flowers for the cut flower trade, it's inevitable that the hybridization has diluted the inclination to readily produce basal keikis.

That's not to say hybridizers couldn't focus on preserving this trait in larger flowered hybrids, but you have to consider that it might not be as favorable as you think. Having lots of growths of a monopodial plant packed in a small space could mean that the keikis are competing against each other for light and nutrition, which can then negatively impact productivity. Plus, if the plants are busy investing energy and nutrients into growing keikis, that may leave less to invest in flowering. Also, having lots of plants in a small space like that could increase the frequency and severity of pests and pathogens or make it harder to treat them.