The BEST Phal keiki season ever! - Orchid Board

Sandy4453 · #1 11-03-2009, 11:30 PM

...thanks to KeikiPro. I applied the solution to most of the Phal spikes. I got 100% results...some spikes went on to give me flowers with no keikis to follow (about 20%) but most spikes followed up with growing new plants (with multiple keikis on some spikes!) and some, almost 3 months later now, are beginning to grow more keikis. The downside in this (I suspect) will be the potential in growing new spikes this coming season, and finding the room to add these to my collection. So many Phals...so little room.

I had a lot of fun with this over the summer. Just took some photos this evening of some of these babies that are in close view.

The last 2 pics are of keikis that have since been separated.

Thanks for allowing me to indulge in my excitement here.

trdyl · #2 11-03-2009, 11:37 PM

Congratulations!!!

I see that it really works well.

RenéeS · #3 11-04-2009, 03:59 AM

That is so cool!!

Never seen so many keiki's before

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I have never heard of that keikiPro, where do you get it??

kiki-do · #4 11-04-2009, 08:48 AM

I have used KeikiPro, but didn't get results like you have. I usually get new spikes off other spikes, and they don't amount to much in the long haul. KeikiPro does do some bizarre things that I've noticed. You did well!
ReneeS....KeikiPro can be bought online. You can google it. It's very expensive for a small amount, but you don't need much of it at any given time. It promotes fast growth on any plant that shows signs of growth appearing, and oftentimes it will promote keikis. Hope that helped.

RenéeS · #5 11-04-2009, 09:21 AM

Thanks KikiDo, I had already googled it and went

when I saw the price

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Sandy, how many keiki's have you gathered so far? Keiki's are great, it's so much fun seeing them grow up and flower

Sandy4453 · #6 11-04-2009, 09:21 AM

kiki, I'm surprised to read about your results.

Were these Phals that you tried this on? One little drop to the nodes (after prying open) is all I did. What bizarre things did you notice?

The KeikiPro cost about $22 for .5 oz. I used it on at least 75 nodes, total and still have well over 1/2 bottle.

kiki-do · #7 11-04-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

kiki, I'm surprised to read about your results.

Were these Phals that you tried this on? One little drop to the nodes (after prying open) is all I did. What bizarre things did you notice?

The KeikiPro cost about $22 for .5 oz. I used it on at least 75 nodes, total and still have well over 1/2 bottle.

I used on a few phals. Got some good results on two, but the bizarre I mentioned is a bunch of spikes from spikes and they all just dried up (see picture). Then on one phal, got two keikis (posting a picture) but the growth just completely stopped and has been that way for a very long time....at least 4 months! I'm not blaming it on keikipro, per se, but it seems bizarre to me that although it looks healthy, it just stopped growing. It also seemed to be trying to produce roots and just nubs appeared then all stopped. I waited to use keikipro when I started seeing new growth again. That's when the directions say to use it. I went right by the directions, too. Might be just me, but I'm a little leery about using this product on the phals I deem my favorites.

kiki-do · #8 11-04-2009, 09:57 AM

Those pics aren't very clear. The yellow blooms are not from the plant with the dried up spikes. Sorry. It's from the plant next to it. (she wanted to get into the picture too). And the roots from that last picture are only from the original base plant. The two keikis have not developed their own root system. I don't take great pics, sorry.

BikerDoc5968 · #9 11-04-2009, 10:06 AM

Sandy and Kiki, I have used a similar product from a vendor in Canada called KeikiGrow Plus. It is a lanolin-based material and is applied in much the same way by removing the node cover. I have found that any of these materials must be applied when the plant is in its vegetative growing phase. So for you, Sandy, doing this over the summer was perfect timing and may be a portion of the reason for your results...so when can I expect donations

I have gotten some crazy growth of spikes using the paste also... almost as though the plant didn't know just what to do.... and I get lots of flower spikes if applied after the last flower has opened. My best results have been on old spikes in late spring when the mother plant should start to put out new leaves.

There is an article out of Michigan State University that addresses the impact of temperature on whether an orchid produces flowers or Keikis. It is a long article so anyone who wishes to read it, send me an email and I'd be more than happy to share it with you.

camille1585 · #10 11-04-2009, 10:20 AM

That is so cool, I've never seen so many keikis at once! That stuff really does work well! I think there probably several people here that would be more than happy to take them off your hands if you don't have space!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RenéeS

Thanks KikiDo, I had already googled it and went

when I saw the price

.
Sandy, how many keiki's have you gathered so far? Keiki's are great, it's so much fun seeing them grow up and flower

Renée, here in Europe you can find KeikiBoost. 123seed.com sells a 5ml bottle for 12,50€, plus a few extra € for shipping. KeikiBoost