anyone here used/using keiki paste?

[mehitabel]

Hi, everyone. I am wondering if anyone here has or is using keiki paste to form keikis on phal spikes?

I am experimenting with this right now, and have managed to get what I could call kieiki "nubbins" -- ie nubbins about 1/4". That part was fairly easy.

However, they do seem to develop pretty slowly. Just wondered if anyone had done this and had an idea how long it takes from the paste to the first leaf appearing.

Also, is there anything you can do to speed the process up?

The vendor advertises "keiki grow" in addition to "keiki paste". K paste to start the keiki, and the K grow to grow it.

Was hoping I wouldn't need to pop more $$ for the K grow.

Any replies will be much appreciated.

[gands]

The optimum temperature for phal growth is between 78 & 82 degrees (day and night). Other than maintaining those temps, the general culture of the plant will determine the growth rate. The reason for 2 different pastes, is that one contains a cytokinin for initial cell division. The other contains an auxin for growth of those dividing cells. I use a different product that contains both of these hormones in a stable liquid solution. So one application is all that is required. I have had blooming keikis in 8-10 months on many different plants. However.....now that you have used a hormone paste I would not recommend treating the plant with a different one, as this could be harmful. I hate to have to tell you this, because I hate hearing it myself, but you will just have to be patient.........lol

[mehitabel]

Thanks very much for the response, gands. LOL, I've said it to others often enough, so it's my turn, I guess. Never thought about whether it was irritating to anyone

I'm curious about the product you're using. Do you mind sharing the name of it, and where you get it? One application and well-developed keikis in 8-10 months is about my level of being able to watch paint dry, I'm afraid

I'm using Keiki Grow Plus. And after re-reading the brochure, think it has a grow thing in it as well.

I'm always surprised at how few people respond to a post like this -- do you think it's just that not many people have tried it? Or that no one cares about producing keikis?

[camille1585]

I've never used a paste before as it does not seem to be widely available in France. I'm lucky, keikis just seem to happen on my phal Brother Spring Dancer. From what I've seen in my conditions(70 day and 64 night), the little nubbin is very slow to develop. But once it gets started and the first true leaf was a half inch(a month I'd say) it grew phenomenally fast. The nubbin appeared end of september. Now it has two leaves each over 3 inches, a third leaf growing, two 1inch roots, an other root on the way and 2 flowers!! And I thought I would have to wait years to see flowers on it!

[Brooke]

Mehitabel I'm getting ready to try the Keiki Pro and will keep my fingers crossed that you have success to spur me on. I have a couple of variegated phals I would love to propogate and a couple of old catt backbulbs I would love to jumpstart.

Brooke

[mehitabel]

Hi, Camille. Thanks very much for the pictures of your gorgeous, healthy little keiki. What a delight it must have been watching that grow! It's just beautiful!

Thanks for sharing your experience with keikis on your Br Spring Dancer. Orchidwiz says that one is 51% equestris, and the Phal issue of Orchid Digest (2002, V. 66, #4, p 192) says of equestris

"the inflorescences freely keiki at the apex after blooming"

So I guess you can look forward to lots of those.

Thanks so much for sharing. A real delight. Hope I can get something that looks like that one of these days

[mehitabel]

Hey, Brooke. I need your success to spur me on, too. I hope you'll be posting about your results, with pictures if possible.

I know it can be done because Seagrove orchids among other small vendors offers an occasional one or two mericlones of their awarded rarer plants. Seagrove even has a page of notes on how to use the paste.

But I can't believe people haven't been trying this stuff right and left. The price is a bit steep, may be offputting when you have no idea what your success will be.

At any rate, I intend to keep trying til I succeed.

Be sure to post about any effects on your old catt backbulbs, too. Wonder if it would work on normal catt growing eyes, speed them up? Do ya think?

[Brooke]

I would have to check the website but I think they say you can use it on the dormant eyes.

Right now both my variegated phals are spiking, one is opening today, and will have to wait for them to quit. I have another variegated coming this week from Normans and hopefully it will be in great shape (normally are) and I can eventually use it on that too. This one coming has pink blooms instead of the white of my other two.

If successful, I will post pics.

Brooke

[camille1585]

Thanks for the info on my phal. I had no idea it had so much equestris in it!
I just found a cool experimental way of getting keikis and the pictures look promising. It's node culture in soil, although I do think the mold will take over before anything grows! Keiki paste is probably the best way to go, but I think I'll try this as an experiment. If it works, it's a great way to get keikis without tiring the mother plant. I also have a spent spike in water. Nothing yet

Lotte and Thomas orchids There's a link on that page to use peat pellets and moss instead of soil.

[KC Wong]

Hi, mehitabel

Me too, new to this. I have tried on two types of Phal.
It's takes about 6 weeks for the leaf appearing. Attached are two photos on two types of Phal.

The 1st photo. the bottom keiki has also start to develop a root at the back end of it.

The 2nd photo the lower keiki also has leaf like appearing but not the top keiki. The top keiki looks like a spike to me. not able to tell yet will up date as it goes.
_______

KC