Keiki Help!!

[ELORCHID]

Hello everyone, I've had a Keiki growing on one of my Phals for a few months, however, I am worried I might have left it there too long. The Mother and keiki are both looking great, the Mother has been growing new leafs and roots, I repotted it soon after I saw the keiki growing. The problem is that the roots of the keiki might be too long and they might not adapt well to being in a pot, any suggestions? I've attached some pictures.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

See if you can wiggle the kheiki loose. If they're ready to come off, it'll peel off easily. If not, leave it on.

Instead of potting the Phal, you could mount it.

[Becca]

Well you could find a pot that is deep, but not wide, maybe about 2 inches wide. Kind of like a paph pot, or something like this: Terracotta Plastic Paph Pot - 5" but not as wide. If you put it in 5" size like the one in the link it will probably get root root due to being over potted.

[trdyl]

Welcome to OB!

If you do decide to remove the keiki, dust the cut area with cinnamon and let it sit for about a day or two in a shaded area before potting. The cinnamon will act as a fungicide. Letting it sit out will allow the keiki to heal the cut area and help prevent an infection.

[kaitala]

I am a total noob to orchids, so I have no info to offer.

That being said, I am SO IMPRESSED with this!!! It's the first time I've even seen a pic of a keiki (haven't been on the board long)!!! Congrats on your "baby" and best of luck with it!!!!

[camille1585]

Congrats on the keiki! To remove it the best is to cut the spike right below and above it. As for the pot, as Becca says it will need a somewhat high and narrow pot. I faced the same problem as you with one of my keikis, and I had to improvise my own pot! I used a 0,5 liter bottle of bottled water that I cut the top off. Using a nail heated over a flame I melted a lot of holes into the bottom (do this in a ventilated place- stinky!), and voila; instant clear phal pot!

[johnblagg]

It will do great dont worry.Just wait untill it is activly growing roots to pot it just like it was a older plant that needed repotting.

I never worry about old roots adjusting to being put into bark or In my case the Rice hulls I use.Its when you go from bark or spag to s/h or water culture that you have to worry more about roots adjusting to the new medium

[camille1585]

Actually, I've found that keiki roots DO need to adjust. Their roots are used to growing high and dry, and are not tailored to the moist environment of a pot. The first keiki I had I was watering it as I would water my other phals, never giving it time to completely dry out. I started seeing a bit of rot. Easing back on the watering fixed the problem. With following keikis I took it easy on the watering (let them get quite dry before watering again) and I had no issues.

[johnblagg]

True I was not saying they would not have to adjust. Even when repotting a older plant I do cut back on watering for a week or two after repotting.I just dont worry about them adjusting they do it with no problem

This plant has been placed in a deeper pot each year and air roots get covered every time no special care is taken other than reducing water for a week or so. I repot in in spring and in fall every year and in spring after repotting it is placed under a tree in the yard and gets watered by nature pretty much if it rains its wet if its dry its dry.....In the fall it comes in the house and gets watered if It feels dry or since I grow phals at a friends house once a week at least and more often if I am passing by that way since its a 20 mile trip to water.

I do use a different medium though as I can not grow in bark with any sucess at all.

[etex]

Nice Keiki!!
Lots of good info here! I love the tip on the cut water bottle and heated nail! Great tip for when you need a deeper pot that is not to large!!