Phalaenopsis spike growths...

[DenSeif]

I have a Phalenposis - Sin-Yuan Golden Beauty. Has bloomed beautifully. I have re-potted and new root growth seems to be doing O.K.

Plant has two spikes that were cut back, now it's growing new leaves quite actively out of both spikes. Original plant leaves seem to be dying off..could it be all the energy is going to the new additions?

I assumed the new growths wopuld also sprout roots, but none have appeared. Should I cut the two spikes just below the leaves and re-pot? Not sure what to do at this time.

Help...

[Zoi2]

It sounds like you have keikies growing on your spikes, any chance you can post a picture or two? If they are keikies they need roots before you can pot them.
Joann

[DenSeif]

Here are the pics. If I wait for roots to appear on the two spikes, I'm assuming the other leaves from main plant will continue to wither. Does that mean I'll lose the original plant?

[Zoi2]

The original plant looks like it has crown rot and will probably die, however--as long as it has a healthy root or two, it could grow a basal keiki.

The keikies on the flower spikes are taking nutrients from the mother plant but they are not ready to pot up by themselves yet.
Joann

[RosieC]

I agree with Joann,

The original plant looks like it's already lost a lot of the top leaves, either through crown rot or another problem.

I don't think the problem with the mother is caused by the keikis, rather the plant may be trying to give a last attempt at propergating it's self by producing the keikis (babies) before it dies.

I would try and keep the mother alive as long as possible to give it's nutrients to the babies. The babies really want roots before they are removed and the longer you can wait to remove them the better.

Good luck. I love this hybrid and have one at home, really hope you can get the babies to survive and pot them up so you can enjoy it again.

[BikerDoc5968]

I have to agree with choice "D", all of the above; Crown rot and the plant trying its best to survive. Just be careful going forward with your watering and once the keiki begins to show roots, you can mist them (just the roots) until the roots number about 3 and are about 2" to 3" long. Then just cut the spike and plant your new plants.

The 1st pic of mine shows a plant that got crown rot and I kept it just to see what might happen and it did grow a keiki from the base. The 2nd set shows another of my negligent mishaps with crown rot. In this situation, I got lucky and got a basal keiki as well as keiki on the spike. Both of the spike plants could be removed but with winter just around the corner, I'm going to wait until spring

[Queenslander]

Howard, I received your tutorial on keiki paste and how to apply, back in Sept. I now have 2 growths, I have been told by others, that these are not keikis, which I was hoping they were. Should I have waited for the flowers to finish, before I started the operation on the node.
Annette

[BikerDoc5968]

Right, those look like young flower spikes. As I had said timing is everything with this paste. The plant really needs to be in its vegetative phase of growth which is usually spring/summer and the temps have to be always up. Nighttime lows cause spikes and my phals are already showing spikes because of our cold weather.... maybe next summer you'll be successful.

[Queenslander]

Ok. thanks Howard. I will try again next spring/summer, which is our Sept. until Feb. Patience, eh???

[Sandy4453]

Queenslander, as Doc said, timing is everything when using keiki paste. I created a little fun last summer ('09) and tried it out on most of my spikes. The best time to get results is when the flowers are spent and have fallen off and definitely the warm weather will promote growth. Have a look at some of my results, using Keiki Pro. http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ason-ever.html