Is it normal for a kiki to flower while still attached?

[Mike Davis]

Wanted to repot this, but didn't want to kill off the flower bud...Should i leave this attached? It is outside in the shade and humidity, just don't want to harm it



Thanks
Mike

[BikerDoc5968]

Leave it alone as long as the parent plant is doing well. There is no need to remove it now even though it appears the roots are large enough to support the keiki on its own. Here is one of my plants where the keiki flowered and everybody did just fine. When you do remove it, make sure you cut the flower spike all the way back to the base. You don't want it to re-flower while it is trying to establish itself off the parent plant.

[marydaniellesantos]

I would leave it until the bloom ends, it'll do fine on the parent plant, just as BikerDoc said.

[stefpix]

If you want to eventually detach it why don't you pot the keiki by bending the stem without clipping it? the roots will grow in the medium. or you could just but some sphag around the roots.when the time will come to cut it will be already established... or you could try to bend the stem and grow it in the same pot as the mother plant.

[Call_Me_Bob]

is there a specifc reason you want to pot it? if not, i would leave it on. it can be a real show when and orchid and keiki are both in flower!! however, i wouldnt bend the spike down so the keiki is in the same pot as the mother plant. the keiki and the mother plant will be competing for the nutrients.

if you do remove it, it should take to mounting well, because the roots are already grown in to the air, so they wont be in as much shock as a potted plant, upon mounting

[BikerDoc5968]

DO NOT TRY TO BEND KEIKI! The keili is growing on an old spike that is very ridge and will snap, if you try to bend it. As was asked, what is so important that you detach this keiki now.... as you can see from my pictures both parent and keiki did just fine with flowers and all. Just be patient and you can detach this keiki next spring when it enters its growing phase.

[stefpix]

i have a phal equestris with a keiki growing at the end of a spike and I could bend it no prob months ago. I checked how flexible was the spike

[Mike Davis]

There was no reason for me to repot other than the keiki is kinda loose. I will be just as happy to leave it be I was just going to repot it, but went out of town for a weekend, came back and it had a 4" flower spike! The roots as of this morning are about 4 1/2" long....tons of roots in this humidity! Love it....

[Mike Davis]

Oh, and also...there are about 6 roots you cant see in the picture...little stubby happy roots This is my first keiki so i am pretty excited!