New Phalaenopsis - Orchid Board

larrylwill · #1 11-15-2023, 05:09 PM

What do I do with these? I want to save them. Do I cut and plant the top one and wait on the bottom one? What

Roberta · #2 11-15-2023, 06:58 PM

Those are keikis (keiki is Hawaiian for baby). The top one has a nice root, so it is ready to grow as a separate plant, you can cut it (you might want to leave a bit of the stem attached, for stabilityi) and pot it up. The lower one may or may not develop - since the stem is separate from the plant, its only source of energy is that old stem which may or may not be sufficient. Is there water in that vase? The cut spike will need it to remain viable. (Cut the dry exposed stem to fresh tissue before placing in water, as with any cut flower) If it develops good leaves and root(s) then it has a chance of surviving independently. Right now, no. Leave it and watch. If you had left the old spike attached to the plant, it would have had a better chance.

larrylwill · #3 11-15-2023, 08:04 PM

Thanks, Its been on that stem for a couple months, I just noticed the lower leaves today. Yes there is water in the vase from the kitchen sink. The smaller one is only about 2 inches from the bottom of the stem. I pulled it out for the picture.

Roberta · #4 11-15-2023, 08:26 PM

Ah, ok. See what develops on that one. The one with a good root should be far enough along to grow independently.

larrylwill · #5 11-15-2023, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

Ah, ok. See what develops on that one. The one with a good root should be far enough along to grow independently.

I just noticed the root today. It came on fast.
How common are keikis like these?

Roberta · #6 11-15-2023, 09:16 PM

Very common. When I have a Phalanopsis, I usuallyl don't cut the spike as long as it is green, after the flowers have dropped. Sometimes they generate a side branch with more flowers, sometimes they do keikis. At any rate, as long as it's green it can be useful to the mother plant as a reserve. (When it turns brown, it's truly done and gets clipped) I have also had spikes that generate a keiki that also blooms. So there all sorts of variations on the theme. Fun to watch.

larrylwill · #7 11-15-2023, 09:22 PM

Thanks, I usually don't cut the stem until it turns brown but have never had a re bloom or keiki. This one bloomed about 6 months ago and when the flowers dropped off I put it in a cooler spot and it grew a new stem and bloomed again.