Phal Keiki's to S/H

[zxyqu]

Hey All. Just trying to get some recommended transfer help for some Keiki's I just had to cut off. They both have roots (2 each), and both of them are at least an inch long. So the length makes me worry about just planting them in the S/H media. I was thinking of just laying the aerial roots over the media, and hope they grow in, and if not they would still be good aerials. Any better ideas on the best transfer situation. Either way they are going on a heat pad, but I'm looking for some better hints. Thanks!

[Eyebabe]

I would not use s/h.
Others may disagree but after about a year growing with it, I don't prefer it for small phals, seedlings, or stem props.

[zxyqu]

I've thought about just putting them in sphag, but the parents were in S/H, and I've slowly transitioned some of my phals to S/H with good success. Thanks for the thought though, but if this is a general feeling, I may have to use the moss.

[Ray]

If kept warm, they will thrive in S/H.

I do have a recommendation for the future: Plant the keikies, and let them get established in their own pots before disconnecting them from the mother plant.

[jrodpad]

Ray,

I don't want to thread jack this s/h question, but how on earth could someone pot the keiki without removing it from the mother plant? Pics to illustrate the point?

-J

[zxyqu]

J, don't feel bad about that question, as that is exactly what I was going to ask. Ray, would you have to coax the spike lower, or what you literally rig some way to get the bot the keiki on the spike?

[nutgirl]

Last summer I potted 2 keikis. One had one 2" root, one had two.)

I used very small pots with hydroton and a thin layer of sphag on top. (my conditions are quite dry, the spag seems to help.)

Initially I grew them traditionally,keeping them well watered until more roots started to grow, then changed to the S/H technique.

Success so far.

Maureen

[Vanda lover]

Originally Posted by nutgirl

Last summer I potted 2 keikis. One had one 2" root, one had two.)

I used very small pots with hydroton and a thin layer of sphag on top. (my conditions are quite dry, the spag seems to help.)

Initially I grew them traditionally,keeping them well watered until more roots started to grow, then changed to the S/H technique.

Success so far.

Maureen

That sounds to me like a very good idea. It would help keep the surface moist, which I've found can be a problem with s/h, but would also get them used to growing in hydroton.

[Pilot]

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

That sounds to me like a very good idea. It would help keep the surface moist, which I've found can be a problem with s/h, but would also get them used to growing in hydroton.

+1 to the above. Also, if the keiki is still attached, any lost roots isn't a big issue, either, as a lot of nutrition is coming from the main plant itself. It may require some strange set ups, but if given the chance, the keikis will grow into the s/h set up well.

[Ray]

Just gently arch the spike over, and clip it to the edge of a pot so the plant is held in pace. Once it roots, snip and away it goes.

There have been times I've had to put the secondary pot on some improvised stand so it's high enough if the spike cannot bend that far without breaking.