what is on this phals stem?

[SlipperGirl]

Hi,

one of my phals was not doing very well so I cut the stems off and put them in a cup with some water. Now it looks like it is growing something can you tell what it is

sorry the pics are not very good if you cant see it let me know and I will take some more

[zxyqu]

Did you put any sugar in the water (will help regardless of what this is). It looks like it could be a kieki, but it's really tough to tell from the pics. Could also be a new floral branch.

[cbuchman]

Looks like a Kieki is forming.

[Dorita]

I vote for a keiki too. I've read that if you cut a stem and put it in the water it's usual to form a keiki but I don't know what you have to do after that.I mean how can you keep it alive when it is not on a mother plant. But I'm sure somebody more experienced will give the answer.For the moment welcome the new baby at home. I have one too in the same size and I'm really excited.

[cbuchman]

Keiki's on Phals are address on the Ob so do a search. For now, it is very immature and should be left as is. You can pot it up when its roots are a couple of inches long.

[SlipperGirl]

I hope it is a keiki what should I do for it right now I just have it sitting by a window with a little water in the cup and the temp is about 60F. I have never had a keiki before so any help you can give would be great.

[katrina]

If you've removed the inflorescence from the Mother plant it is highly unlikely your little keiki will survive. There is nothing for it to pull energy and nutrients from w/out the Mother.

You can try to put a little fert in the water but I don't think it's going to do a whole heck of a lot. Sorry.

[SlipperGirl]

Originally Posted by katrina

If you've removed the inflorescence from the Mother plant it is highly unlikely your little keiki will survive. There is nothing for it to pull energy and nutrients from w/out the Mother.

You can try to put a little fert in the water but I don't think it's going to do a whole heck of a lot. Sorry.

Thats so sad that it will die but some people cut the stems off there plants in hope that they will form a keiki, why would they do that if the plant was going to not survive.

[jai_star]

its amazing that it can form a keki when removed from the plant do keep us posted on its survival rate i suppose if it were to put out roots then you will have a keiki worth keeping

[katrina]

Originally Posted by mothorchidgirl

Thats so sad that it will die but some people cut the stems off there plants in hope that they will form a keiki, why would they do that if the plant was going to not survive.

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.