Keiki in trouble

[Amanda L]

I have a keiki that is in desperate need of you guys. This is a keiki that grew from a plant that I lovingly gave crown rot. It's a beautiful white with dark purple spots flower and I really want to be able to save this keiki. PLEASE HELP

After growing 2 leaves and starting another one, I noticed that the older leaf is starting to wrinkle. I know that this is normal on older plants, but feel like this leaf was too short lived to be doing this now. The keiki doesn't really have any roots of it's own, just 2 little nubbies that aren't growing any bigger. The "mother" crown is dead now, but still has some roots left. I really don't know what to do with her.

Any help would be VERY MUCH appreciated!!!

P.S. sorry for the pictures. I'm still learning my "Big Girl" camera.

[Cookiemonster]

The wrinkling is because of dehydration or root problem- looks like you got a new root system intact why wont you pot that baby up ?

[Amanda L]

I'm not sure if the root system is big enough, the roots that the keiki has grown aren't even really roots yet. The longer roots in the pictures are from the mother plant.

[camille1585]

The long roots may be on the (ex) mother plant, but they are feeding the keiki too. As the crown of the mother is gone, those roots now belong to the basal keiki, so don't take off the keiki! I agree wit Cookie, you should pot it up now, so it gets more constant moisture. The leaves should firm up again in no time!

[mehitabel]

I vote for leaving it on the mother til your root nubs get going. The roots on the mother may still be supplying moisture to the keiki. Rootless keikis are not going to be easier to root when they are off the mother.

You might try putting a sandwich baggie loosly over the little guy, supply a little humidity. Or put the whole thing, mother and keiki into a big plastic bag for humidity.

Whatever happens, chalk it up to experience. Experts suggest about a 50% success rate for rescues, and this would be harder than the rescue of a rootless but big and once vigorous phal.

You might cosset yourself with another spotted phal-- I Hsin Sun Beauty is indeed a beauty, with flowers that last more than 4 months each flower.

[Lagoon]

It seems to be having a hard time as it is ... So, I would go ahead and pot it up, mommy and all.

Good luck & let us know how its doing

[RosieC]

I've never had experience with a keiki, but my inclination would be to pot it up with the roots of the mother still there.

The mother must be feeding water to the keiki and by potting it up you will give it more constant water.

Try watering with warm water and KLN if you have any. This should help promote root growth.