what is on this phals stem?

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by katrina

I've never heard of people cutting the spike to produce a keiki. However, I have heard of people cutting the spike just above one of the nodes in an attempt at producing a sub-spike or branching of the existing spike. Keiki or sub-spike (branching)...it requires the energy of the Mother plant to keep it going so it would develop. It's only going to happen on the part of the spike still attached to the mature plant.

here is a link where the girl did what I did to get a keiki

Unexpected Keiki

[sweetjblue]

Hannah,
It does look as though your stem is trying to produce a keiki ( at least to me). If that's the case I would try to give it warmer temps than 60, 70 would be more like it. Keep it in a warm, humid environment with indirect light and it may just surprise you. Never let the stem be without water.
Here's a shot of one that I have done this with. I only cut the spike because the mother plant was starting to go downhill and the keiki was already formed but without roots. As you can see it has one baby root now and started a new leaf.

Judi

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by sweetjblue

Hannah,
It does look as though your stem is trying to produce a keiki ( at least to me). If that's the case I would try to give it warmer temps than 60, 70 would be more like it. Keep it in a warm, humid environment with indirect light and it may just surprise you. Never let the stem be without water.
Here's a shot of one that I have done this with. I only cut the spike because the mother plant was starting to go downhill and the keiki was already formed but without roots. As you can see it has one baby root now and started a new leaf.

Judi

I moved the stem in with my other orchids the temps are about 70F in the day and about 60F at night. it is under lights and the humidity it about 45 50%

[katrina]

Originally Posted by mothorchidgirl

here is a link where the girl did what I did to get a keiki

Unexpected Keiki

Interesting read but I imagine that keiki didn't make it. At the last post there were no roots and the spike was dried up. W/out additional nutrients to pull from the little one has no means to produce roots. It's the same reason we say leave a keiki on the Mother until the roots are a good 2-3" long...w/out Mama it won't make roots.

I'm not saying to throw out the spike...give it a try...have fun w/it...but don't be disappointed if it does not survive.

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by katrina

Interesting read but I imagine that keiki didn't make it. At the last post there were no roots and the spike was dried up. W/out additional nutrients to pull from the little one has no means to produce roots. It's the same reason we say leave a keiki on the Mother until the roots are a good 2-3" long...w/out Mama it won't make roots.

I'm not saying to throw out the spike...give it a try...have fun w/it...but don't be disappointed if it does not survive.

well its a long shot I know but I do hope the keiki will make it

[Kala]

For what I have read in my books (Brian & Wilma Rittershausen), you can cut off the stalk of a Phal, cut it in pieces with 2 'eyes' in pieces and place it on some moss in a plastic tray and cover it it with plastic. Keep it moist and a keiki will form and grow. The phal is really easy with this.

I've tried this too and I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Good luck!

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by Kala

For what I have read in my books (Brian & Wilma Rittershausen), you can cut off the stalk of a Phal, cut it in pieces with 2 'eyes' in pieces and place it on some moss in a plastic tray and cover it it with plastic. Keep it moist and a keiki will form and grow. The phal is really easy with this.

I've tried this too and I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Good luck!

thanks and good luck to you to I hope you get a keiki

[mattryan]

Kala there are no 'eyes' when you are talking about phals. You have things confused. The only time you can refer to 'eyes' is when you have an orchid that produces pbulbs. For instance cymbidiums or oncidiums. Also the type of reproduction that you are referring to 'cutting in pieces and covering in moss' is cane dendrobiums, not phals at all. You have several different types of orchids all confused into one. Please don't try this with phals, because it won't work. There are several posts with this happening on cut spikes, it is actually very interesting to see how long some peeps have manged to get to. Goodluck!!!

Cheryl

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by Kala

For what I have read in my books (Brian & Wilma Rittershausen), you can cut off the stalk of a Phal, cut it in pieces with 2 'eyes' in pieces and place it on some moss in a plastic tray and cover it it with plastic. Keep it moist and a keiki will form and grow. The phal is really easy with this.

I've tried this too and I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Good luck!

here is a method that I found on orchid board you may have read it but I thought I would give it to you just in case you have not read it it should work on phals

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...tml#post538967

[RosieC]

Originally Posted by mattryan

there are no 'eyes' when you are talking about phals.

I think what is meant is the nodes on the phal spikes. This is where the keikis come from them and they are sometimes referred to as eyes, just as the nodes that produce growths on a sympodial orchid are.

The link above shows this being done with a phal spike. Really interesting!