Surprising keiki find

[daveh_sf]

Last weekend while I was trimming last year's dead pitchers from a Nepenthes 'Marble Queen' (tropical pitcher plant), I saw something big inside one of the pitchers. Looking in, I saw a little Den. kingianum growing inside in the liquid at the bottom of the pitcher! Apparently it had fallen off a nearby plant right into the pitcher. Even more surprising is that the acids and digestive enzymes of the pitcher don't seem to bother the orchid roots. It has new roots about an inch long and a new side growth starting. In the last picture you can see a dead earwig attached to one of the roots.

[Call_Me_Bob]

awesome!! i didnt know keikis just fell off like that

[Zoi2]

Very cool and the little guy looks healthy.
Joann

[trdyl]

That is so cool! It really looks like it enjoyed being in there.

[Junebug]

Your pitcher plant made a great surrogate mother. That's the coolest thing.

[jrodpad]

That is remarkable! Who knew that a pitcher plant could incubate a small den.?

Great stuff - thanks for sharing.

-J

[calvin_orchidL]

That is probably the coolest thing I've seen in ages! Awesome!

[RosieC]

Wow, that is so cool!

[shadytrake]

Nature finds a way!

[Orchidreamer]

So cool! Looks like a healthy keiki...Let's all grow keikis in pitcher plants