When to pot a Den keiki?
 

Some of mine are blooming, some have been making keiki, and some of the keiki have been blooming. My dad has REALLY been wanting more orchids of various kinds and I'd like to pot up a keiki for him.

On one of the plants, there are 2 keiki with really fat roots about 3" long. (one stalk per keiki). In some places I've been told to wait until the keiki is more than one stalk, others not.

Also, I would need more than scissors to remove it. So, carefully with a sharp kitch knife between the keiki and the main stalk maybe?

All the plants are outside currently and growing like weeds. It's probably going to be a matter of transplanting them now or wait until spring.

Thanks for the help!

It would help if we knew what part of the country you live in. Some places are well into fall, and others are still in summer.

A sturdy, sharp garden clippers works well. Be sure it is clean and sprayed with alcohol or 10% bleach solution before and in between cuts, to prevent spreading diseases.

I'm in St. Louis. By estimate, they have about 3 more weeks tops before I bring them inside. But would shove them on the kitchen window sill while getting the lighting set up.

I've just chopped one on my Den primulinum off. Roots are about 2-3 inches long, leaves about the same. Its a species that is deciduous but I am hoping it will retain its leaves until the keiki is established.

If your plant clearly rests in winter, I would wait until next spring.

Update. Found a youtube video!

And will be letting the two den keiki's wait until next spring (unless the plant starts having issues) but DO have to repot some of the other ones. Just split a huge pot of some kind of Phaph in two since it wasn't glowingly connected anyway.

The good thing about the warm months here in STL is all the growth. They're VERY happy then. The bad side is all the rain can make orchids which may MIGHT have need potted before, certainly need it before the end. No root rot on any of 'em yet, but there would be if I left 'em like they are for the winter.