Keiki - wwyd?

[Clawhammer]

So, I messed this one up. Early in the grow season I found a spider mite on this plant when the new growth was quite small. An abundance of rubbing alcohol stalled and eventually killed the growth. It sat for a month or so and then the tiny new growth at the bottom popped out from the old tiny bulb, next to a new growth from the big bulb. I accidentally detached the new growth when repotting and even lost the tag Then the bottom of the big bulb began to rot? It is dry but it has collapsed. The new keiki is getting big and I think my best shot at keeping this thing going.

I was going to wait until the bulb is totally shriveled to remove the keiki. Is this the best plan?

How would you guys pot up the keiki once it is ready to go?

[IMG]unnamed (72) by Eric Seyfried, on Flickr[/IMG]

[fishmom]

I would recommend planting the whole p-bulb deep in a pot, to get the new keiki close or at the level of the medium. I would do this as soon as possible, for the sake of the new roots. I would cut off the black part of the bulb before planting, just to be sure it cannot spread.

[Clawhammer]

Originally Posted by fishmom

I would recommend planting the whole p-bulb deep in a pot, to get the new keiki close or at the level of the medium. I would do this as soon as possible, for the sake of the new roots. I would cut off the black part of the bulb before planting, just to be sure it cannot spread.

Thanks for the advice, I hadn't considered leaving the keiki attached to the p-bulb or cutting off the bottom part of the bulb. Makes sense. Should I allow the cut p-bulb to dry a couple days after surgery before planting?

[estación seca]

I would leave the new growth attached to the old pseudobulb and not cut it. Pull it out of the moss and lay the whole thing sideways on top of a new pot full of medium, so the new roots are in contact with the medium. The roots will figure it out. Don't worry if the shoot isn't pointing upward. It will straighten itself.

[fishmom]

Clawhammer, I would use cinnamon on the open cut if I did that, but ES's solution is the simplest if you have an appropriate container.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i would not cut it if it is dry and firm

i would try ES's suggestion as well. those roots are still fragile so don't really put them INTO the medium but riiiiiight up to it so they can go in themselves...i would not water much until they get into the medium and then it should be pretty well into growing (hopefully) and you can go go go

[Clawhammer]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Here is how I executed the advice. Let me know if there is anything that can be improved. I've been using this PET method under lights and its worked out very well, except for round 1 with this guy.

[IMG]unnamed (74) by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]unnamed (75) by Eric, on Flickr[/IMG]

[SouthPark]

I would probably just leave it grow as-is heheheh.

That would be a nice sight hehehehe.

Your re-arrangement/repot looks good CH.

[DirtyCoconuts]

PET is that rocks then manure then sphag?

i am not really familiar with it

the repot looks great

[estación seca]

I would set it facing all the way down, with as many roots touching the media as possible.