A tiny keiki flowered on my Baldan's treasure - Orchid Board

vmax3000 · #1 11-03-2008, 02:14 PM

This last spring/early summer, my Phal. Baldan's Treasure "kaleidoscope" bloomed...quite normally. One of the 'spikes' later developed a little keiki, and it's tiny, mind you. I noticed a growth that looked like a bud, but thought "no way, that keiki is too tiny". Not so, says my plant. It's one blossom developing on this little plantlet. I promise to post a picture, later. Is there a reasonable explanation for this behavior?

Royal · #2 11-03-2008, 03:32 PM

One reasonable explanation may be that you grow orchids well.

camille1585 · #3 11-03-2008, 03:43 PM

I don't have an explanation, but I have an orchid which did the exact same thing. Keiki grew 2-3 leaves, and 2 buds appeared at the base. No spike. It was interesting. That very same keiki then grew a spike a month after cutting it off the mother plant end of march, and is still in bloom.

Brooke · #4 11-03-2008, 05:02 PM

Here is a picture of Phal. lueddemaniana. There is the first main growth and everything else are the keikis it produces. I have given away multiple additional keikis to friends because I am running out of room on the totem.

This is Phal. javanica. Please note the bloom on the far left. Originally this bloomed as a normal spike and then the spike turned into a blooming keiki. If you look at the bloom you can see the tiny leaf that formed. Today the keiki has grown two roots long enough to attach to the mount.

Phals are amazing and cannot be put into a box. They just do what they want to and we can go along for the ride.

Brooke

mayres · #5 11-03-2008, 05:03 PM

I agree with Royal - It is a happy plant - good job!

vmax3000 · #6 11-03-2008, 05:37 PM

WOO HOO!!!

Pretty pictures. I don't feel so paranoid, now!!

vmax3000 · #7 11-04-2008, 09:36 AM

Here's my itty bitty baby!

MuscleGirl'sHobby · #8 11-10-2008, 01:43 PM

I have a yellow NOID that is doing the same thing. I had re-potted it after the blooms faded and it started to put up a new leaf. Then the keiki began to form. After it had about 2-3 little leaves a single bud popped out. It has been in bloom for a little better than 2 months now.

camille1585 · #9 11-10-2008, 01:51 PM

I missed your last post Vanessa. My keiki did exactly that, but had bigger leaves. It's just the strangest thing! I think it's the sign of a very happy plant.