Phal with a keiki - Orchid Board

bballr4567 · #1 12-13-2011, 05:44 PM

I purchased this Phal probably a good 8-9 months ago. When it lost its flowers the stem stayed good and green so I left it alone as I didnt want it to rebloom due to being neglected in the store. The flowers basically dropped because it was severely dehydrated in the store and it was next to door that allowed a lot of wind to blow through the area. The plant never lost a leaf though.

Well, I repotted today because the moss was really decomposed and smelled bad. During the repot, there was maybe 4 good rots with the rest already being gone and only the central vein being left.

Now, about two weeks ago I noticed a keiki being formed along with a NEW leaf on the main plant. This leads me to think the plant is doing well as it has both of those things happening.

Should I trim off the flower stem and let the plant regrow roots or let it live?

zxyqu · #2 12-13-2011, 05:51 PM

If you want to keep the keiki, let it remain on the plant till you have about 3 total inches of roots. I prefer 2 good roots, but you can get by with 1 good 3" root, or 3 good 1" roots. Once you get that, make a clean cut, and pot it up.

bballr4567 · #3 12-13-2011, 05:56 PM

See, I want to keep the keiki but dont want the mother plant to die as well. It has awesome looking flowers so it will be great to have two of the same!

The flower stem was almost three feet tall on this one so I know at one time it was a good strong plant. I want it to do that again! lol

zxyqu · #4 12-13-2011, 06:07 PM

If the plant is growing a new leaf, and you say it had some good roots, I think both can make it. But I haven't seen a pic of the roots. How many roots do you think were lost compared to what you have now? Also, monitor the length on the new leaf. If it stunts a bit, which it might if the roots system isn't there, you might have set it back a bit. But I still think both will be fine.

bballr4567 · #5 12-13-2011, 06:10 PM

It lost maybe half the roots. The roots left are actually quite big and green.

I will watch the leaf growth but its grown a full inch in about a week and a half. That is what baffles me.

I didnt think to take pictures of the roots until AFTER I potted it. D'oh!

silken · #6 12-13-2011, 06:36 PM

It sounds like it will be fine even with the keiki. If the leaf has grown that much, it obviously is able to get nutrients and water with the roots it has. Just fertilize and water normally.

zxyqu · #7 12-13-2011, 06:41 PM

Yeah I think Silken is correct here. I measure all my phals twice a month to monitor leaf growth, and given this is a larger phal, 1" a week or so seems about right. Keep us posted, but I'd just keep on doing what you're doing.

bballr4567 · #8 12-13-2011, 06:43 PM

Thanks! I just wanted some reassurance as Im pretty new to keeping orchids around after they flower.

bballr4567 · #9 12-16-2011, 02:06 PM

Well, the plant seems to be doing good. The keiki has grown to 1 3/4" now from about an 1" in the photo and has 3 leaves with a new one forming.

The mother plant has a new leaf forming that has about another 1/2" of growth.

The plant has a leafspan of 18" so its really not that small either.

bballr4567 · #10 12-21-2011, 07:18 PM

Well, I think the repotting of the phal with the keiki has been a success. The keiki has grown to about 2 and 1/4" not but still no roots. The 4th leaf is coming along nicely.

The new leaf on the plant itself is almost a 1 1/2" now.

As for my other phal, it has a new growth just under the old inflorescence. I tried to get it in the photo but it might be a little blurry. Im not sure if this is a leaf or another inflorescence coming out. I just noticed it a few days ago.

Here is the plant itself.