Keiki or Floral Branch?
 

Hello all,

I'm not new to growing orchids (mainly Phals) but am new to trying to propagate them.

I have a Phal orchid that I successfully pollinated about 7 months ago and just harvested four pods about a month ago. The spike didn't die back so I left it. About a week ago I noticed a change to the second lowest node on the spike. It looked like it was starting to swell so I've been keeping an eye on it. Sure enough something is happening.

I have attached a closeup of the node that I'm assuming has differentiated. Is there anyway to tell at this stage whether it might be a Keiki or whether it's going to be a floral branch or will I have to wait a few more weeks? Nothing has been applied to this node.

If it helps any this Phal seems to be in vegetative growth stage at the moment. There's a new leaf coming out of the top of the leaf stalk. I'm not sure if this might dictate what this node might be. Meaning vegetative growth stage is more likely to produce a Keiki whereas flowering stage is more likely to produce a floral branch.

I haven't been able to find a lot of photos of Keikis at the early stages but maybe that's because there's no way of knowing this early on in development.

Thanks for any help!

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

I think it's too early to tell. However, when I have had secondary spikes on previous spikes, they usually grew during normal spike growing season.

Thanks for the speedy reply. I thought it might be a bit too early to identify but of course my excitement is getting the better of me. :-)

Some of the pics I have seen of an early stage Keiki appear to be a few weeks along in development but they seem to all have spiky tips. Mine appears to be rounded at this stage so if a spiky top is indicative of a Keiki I hope this changes as it grows out. :-)

I will update this post as it continues to grow.

Thanks again!

After doing a bit more reading on Keikis I read that the spike should be place in low light conditions. Bright light will cause the node to produce a floral spike and low light will cause it to form a Keiki (if the node is still undifferentiated). My orchids are currently in an eastern window with bright but indirect light.

I'm not sure if the node in the picture is differentiated or still undifferentiated. I thought differentiated given it has started to swell and grow but some posts I've read (with pictures) seem to suggest this might still be undifferentiated.

If this is the case that it's still undifferentiated should I move it to a spot with lower light?

It might be too late regardless if this has differentiated but if the recommendation is to put it in low light I will do that and watch to see what happens.

Thanks.

I thought I would post an update on the progress of the node on my Phal. This is about 2 weeks since my first post. I still can't tell what it's going to be but the sheath just split on it which indicates the node is still growing. I have also moved this into lower light only because I read posts saying low light is better at producing a Keiki and brighter light for producing a floral branch. I'm not sure if this is true but I want a Keiki so am following the directions of others in hopes of success.

Watching this grow out is like the old saying "A watched pot never boils". It seems to be taking forever. :-)

I will continue to provide updates.

Here's another update. It has been about 1 month since I first noticed the node growing out and unfortunately it looks like I'm not getting any keiki love. It looks more like a floral branch.

If anything changes and a keiki miraculously develops I will post again but at this point it looks like my question of whether it's developing into a keiki or floral branch has been answered.

Admittedly I'm quite surprised because it seems early in the season for floral growth and even more so because I haven't adjusted my conditions to promote a spike.

I didn't think I would be posting an update but changes have happened to the branch over the past couple days that make me think it's now turning into a Keiki and not a floral branch. This is about 37 days since I first noticed the node starting to swell.

There was rapid growth of the branch just like I see on new spikes and the tip appeared to be what you would see for a spike or branch but growth of the branch has slowed over the past couple days and most of the changes seem to be at the tip and now there is the appearance of a third protrusion on the tip. Some of the other posts and pictures I've seen seem to suggest this is a Keiki and the protrusions will be leaves. I have also noticed the first node on this branch is also growing out. The sheath is separating from the branch and I can see the node starting to swell underneath it. I'm a bit surprised to see this happening. It remains to be seen whether anything will come of that node. I've read that too much growth can deplete the mother plant and I don't want that happening.

If anyone has thoughts as to whether this branch is turning into a Keiki let me know.

Thanks.

That's funny, really. Lots of people post asking why they can't get flowers.

LOL. So true!! I have no trouble getting flowers on my Phals. I even have one that started getting a spike in February (normally I get them in July) so they never cease to surprise me which means my next great adventure would be a Keiki. :-)

I find a lot of people post questions asking whether it's a floral branch/spike or Keiki but never close off the post with what the plant actually produced so I thought I would close this off with final pictures of the great reveal.

This orchid teased me, taunted me and toyed with my emotions but in the end it gave me a floral branch. :-) I was really hoping for a Keiki but I'm surely not disappointed by the beautiful flowers I ultimately got (and they're still not all open yet).

AND.... drum roll please... It looks like I'm going to be doubly blessed with a second spike that just started to emerge about a week ago. I have never had two spikes at the same time so this is a wonderful surprise and surely makes up for not getting a Keiki. :-)

Cheers.