Why do Phals keiki?

[Shirley]

I'm curious to know what it is that prompts a plant to produce a keiki. I've been growing orchids for 25 years with moderate success but in all that time I've never had a phal keiki. The only keiki I've ever had was on a Den. kingianum and that plant wouldn't stop! Is there something in the culture that I'm missing? Interesting!

[trdyl]

Some Phals are more prone than others to form keikis. One such Phals is equestris.

[RosieC]

My understanding is that it is genetic. None of mine have ever had them either but I know as Ted says that equestris is prone to get a lot of them.

[billc]

Like Ted & Rosie said, in some cases it's genetic. I also think that when the mother plant is not doing so well it will grow a keiki to propagate itself. You're just growing them too well, so they've never needed to start a keiki.
I, on the other hand have seen keiki's when I've neglected my plants for a period of time.

Bill

[jkofferdahl]

Neglect is certainly not the only cause of a Phal keiki! A healthy plant will produce them both on the stems and also as basal keikis, too. I would agree that I've seen more basal keikis on damaged plants than healthy ones, but have seen plenty on healthy plants; a Phal which is in fragile condition wouldn't be likely to keiki on the stem simply because it takes too much energy from the mother plant.