Dendrobium Keiki growth - what now!?

[andrewfox1887]

My dendrobium upin king serenade has new roots growing up the stem. I did some research and found they are called keikis and can be cut off to form new plants, but I'm not sure what the next steps are! Where is the best place to cut the new plant off? What size pot is best and what is the recommended potting mix for this type of orchid? Any advice would be appreciated. I've attached photos to give a better idea of what I'm working with.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

In general, the larger they are, the better their chance of surviving. There is no rush unless the parent pseudobulb is dying.

If you use the search function here, in the top maroon menu bar, you can find a lot of threads dealing with growing orchids from these.

[headbanger333]

Hello there, I am a newbie myself, but I think they are Nobile keikis. I have pulled (gently) each one off once the roots are about 2 inches long and potted them in small bark in small pots. I have about 30 of these keikis growing strongly and haven't lost any. I love Nobiles as when they flower the stems are covered in lovely flowers that last a long time. I have purple and white ones and pink and yellow ones. Good luck!

[bil]

I find that if you take the kkeikis off individually, they can sulk for ages.
I get better results cutting the mother cane off at the base and potting the whole thing.

[Jeff214]

I had a Den nobile that fell over from a windowsill, and broke into half a dozen pieces. A few had some budding keikei's on it, so I decided to grow it.

Initially, I left the p-bulb fragments in a cup of water in a way that the bottom of the keikei touched the water. This way I hope that it would grow some roots. Eventually, it did. At that point, I decided to pot it up in bark media.

It's been a year and a half since then, and it's on its third cycle of growth. The current growth may get large enough to see a bloom or two.

[andrewfox1887]

Thanks for all the help for a newbie! I think I may just leave them grow until they are larger. It seems that they will be fine growing on the existing cane for the time being? I have ordered some pots and potting mix and will transplant at a later date.

[Roberta]

I'd suggest leaving them... they will also grow flowers when the rest of the plant does, and make an even better display. Certainly does no harm to leave them. But I'd rather have more flowers on a bigger plant than just a few on lots of little plants. My prejudice.