Who has successfully grown a keiki from a cut spike?

[amandarenee]

I have read about this strange phenomenon all over the internet, and am giving it a try with 3 spikes from one of my phals.

As I understand it, you cut the spike after the last bud has bloomed, and put it in a glass of water. Then you stick it in a dark room, and then if you're lucky the dormant nodes produce keikis. Some people put Super Thrive in the water, but most seem to just stick in in there and forget about it for a few weeks.

I'm going to take pics as I go, in case this actually works. Any one else up for joining me on this experiment?

[WhiteRabbit]

Some time ago someone posted asking about this - and someone did reply they had gotten a keiki on a cut spike in water, tho I don't think they placed it in the dark - tho I could be wrong about that. Anyway - the one person had success, but I believe it took a long time - like several months or more ...
Can't hurt to try

[PinkCloud]

I seem to remember that it formed keikis but that there was some problem with getting roots to grow. but as WhiteRabbit said it was months ago so I don't exactly remember. I had a look on the internet and found some old posts on another board maybe it will give you some tips for your growing. Good luck!
Holy Smokes, cut phal spike in water = keiki - Orchids Forum - GardenWeb

[amandarenee]

PinkCloud--

That is actually one of the first things I read about this! I realize it would take a loooong time. But little orchids are just so darn cute, and what do I have to loose? The buds on my phal blasted (it had three spikes that were LOADED with buds, I'm still not sure what went wrong), so I was removing the spikes anyway. I got the poor thing with two damaged leaves that were on their way to dying, so I figured I should take the spikes off to let it recover, otherwise I just would have let them brown naturally.

[jrodpad]

Please do keep us posted with your progress. I've never heard of this before. This is really quite interesting. I wonder what the biology behind such a phenomena might be... is it that the phal spike "thinks" that the mother plant has died due to being cut away and so it focuses on emergency regrowth rather than producing/sustaining the flowers?

Orchids are so cool.

- J

[DSDNYC]

I've grown several plants from cut


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[PinkCloud]

amandarenee -> haha! that's quite comical actually. Exactly, you have nothing to loose and so much to gain!

jrodpad -> I think you are on to something there.. It would make sense that the spike would start thinking that the mother plant is a goner and start a rescue mission. I agree Orchids are way cool!

[amandarenee]

Orchids are awesome!

I really hope this works. I keep checking on the spikes, even though they couldn't have possibly done anything in the previous hour.

[PinkCloud]

amandarenee -> yes I know that feeling. One of my rescue projects started growing a new root and I must have been taking a look at it like every hour. first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
Orchids make you go all obsessive!

[silken]

amandarenee & PinkCloud, I am the same! right now I have a Phal on death's doorstep that my sister rescued from her neighbor and brought to me to revive at Christmas. It has sat on the edge until a few days ago. Now I check the new roots on the basal keiki and the almost invisible new leaf on the mother about 6 times a day!

My friend and I bought the same color Phal at Walmart about a month ago and hers is already dead because she didn't get rid of the big wad of moss at the root ball. Mine still has 1 flower left on the spike and has a good set of roots. (I re-potted immediately) Thanks to this thread, I am going to try and grow a keiki for her on the spike when my flower is done. Very interesting idea!