Epidendrum Orchid
 

I recently went over to someones house who had about 5 different types of Epidendrum Orchids growing. I asked her how i would go about propagating some and she said. Oh Let me show you. So she went to her plants and started breaking off stalks with roots coming out named "Keikis" (from my research) Now i took all of these home and replanted them in an orchid potting mix. I buried the roots, cut the flower stalk off them all (to hope for an increase in root production) and ive let them sit watering them with a 16-8-19 water soluable fertizlizer once a week. My question is. Did i do this right? Will they start rooting soon and how will i know? How will i know if they did not root and are dying? Thanks for any info. I am new to orchids btw so take it easy

Shiffdaddy,

Hello. Sounds like you've got some kinds of reedstem epidendrums. These are quite easy to grow and should do fine with the way yo u have handled them. In my experience, these orchids seem to like to stay a little more wet than many other orchids. I killed my first "keiki" of these... but it was really just a cut stalk. I didn't keep it moist enough and it didn't make it. Were the roots on these stems all along the stem or just near the bottom? I believe that if the roots originate all along the stem that the orchid is most likely Epidendrum radicans. Research reedstem epidendrums. I'm sure others will be by soon with their recommendations.

I have a reedstem epidendrum Joseph's glow which had a tiny keiki on it. I removed it and put the roots in water, and they immediately began to grow very quickly. I was wanting to experiment with water culture, and I think I'll leave it there and see how it goes. It's a cheap experiment. It wasn't growing at all when it was attached to the plant.

I never would have thought to put it in water. I have noticed that when i have new growths on my Epi. criniferum the growth is really slow with just regular bi-weekly watering. When I moved it under a mist head that delivers spray three times a day. The grow is dramatically increased. Most of the roots are exposed and get plenty of water and air.