Another newbie.... trying full water culture

[Phal-annie]

Hello from colorado! I have tried to grow orchids many times. The first time I tried my orchid did great... until I read on how to grow them..... then I killed it😟... so I am now trying full water culture.....i have an phal that is growing a new plant on the root. I'm wondering if this will turn and grow upwards, out is now growing downward toward the water.....

[fishmom]

Are those roots that are pointing toward the right (or down) in your picture the ones that are put into water ? It is hard to see how that keiki could turn itself around, but they can twist to some extent. If you think if it as a basal keiki, does that help? I don't think it will turn over, but it can certainly grow to the side.

And if that section of the root/stem is above the water, the keiki will have good drainage out of the crown, as they do in nature.

[Phal-annie]

Thanks for your reply! The roots that go into the water are about 2 inches below the keiki. At what stage would I remove it. I.e. how long would its roots need to be? I'm afraid eventually it will be in the water, but from your reply it has time and I don't need to worry yet.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Think of "basal keikis" as branches of your plant rather than babies to remove at some point. Plants that are branching usually are happier if you don't remove the branch.

[fishmom]

Agreed with Orchid Whisperer. A plant with basal growths can give you multiple spikes and has a lush, full look. It is not necessary to remove them, in fact your plant will probably do even better if you let the new growth continue.

However, if you are trying to get another plant going, it is generally best to wait until the keiki has at least 2 inch roots before separating.

[Orchid Whisperer]

If you do want to separate that keiki, expect to wait a few years before there are enough roots and the separation is possible.

[Phal-annie]

Oh my....afew years?....yikes i wonder how that's going to work doing water culture.... thx for your answer. I'll probably have a lot of questions before I'm done with this journey! I don't want to lose either one of them. I am excited to learn but boy do my plants suffer as I'm learning.

[charlesf6]

I am excited to learn but boy do my plants suffer as I'm learning.

I follow you here!

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I suspect your new plantlet is growing from the bottom of the old, leafless stem. What you have been doing has worked well, so keep doing it. Yes, orchids do grow slowly, but yours is growing!