Comments on: What To Do When You Have a Keiki On Your Orchid

By: annie morgan

annie morgan — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:18:43 +0000

I’ve had my orchid for five years, it sends up a bloom spike about every 4-6 months which lasts at least three months – it bore a keiki about two years ago, and today the keiki is sending up a bloom spike. The mother is sending up two bloom spikes this time. The spikes were starting before the last blooms fell off the last spike. It has a root system up into the air, and one down into the hydrating bowl. It’s never watered directly on to the chips, but is sprayed thoroughly almost every day. I think it is very happy. It certainly makes me very happy in my old age – I’m over 80, and wonder just how old my orchid actually is…

By: paphiodiva

paphiodiva — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:14:13 +0000

these sound like basal keikies these grow from the base of phalaenopsis orchids, along the perimeter of the crown are dormant “eyes” sometimes an orchids leaves can die back completely due to crown rot or being left in the hot sun for too long, this initiates the dormant eye/s to push out a new crown or leaves , most times with great vigor as they have the original plants root system to sustain them, this sometimes happensw with a perfectly healthy orchid as well, these grow faster the keikies that form on the flower spike as there share an initial root systme with the mother and they usually send their own flower spikes up when in season, when out of flower specimens often give an impression reminicent of a hosta plant with multiple heads of lush green growth as opposed to a singular plant in its own pot, and when in flower you can be dazzled with an extrordinary display of multiple spikes filled with flowers, assuming both mother and keikie are healthy!!!

By: paphiodiva

paphiodiva — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:06:18 +0000

An orchid doesnt have to be stressed to produce a keiki some just do this as they age and havent been polinated. although we enjoy seeing our orchids flower, unless we have a lab and the means to propagate from seed, we dont polinate the flowers which can make some orchids (especially any hybrids that have the species ‘Phalaenopsis equestris’ in there heritage) feel the need to propagate simply to give them a shot at producing offspring, and therfor passing on there genes. the keiki is an exact replica of the parent plant which can be good if you really enjoy the flowers and when seed raising can bring about to many vairables in flower/plant shape color and form, or it can be a bad thing as this plant may have a genetic weakness to certain viruses and diseases, all in all keikies arent always a sign that your culture is not correct or sufficient , if you mother plant have healthy thick roots, lush slightly olive green succulent leaves and flowers regularly than chances are she just wants to ensure somewhere down the line her genes will get passed on whether they come from here or her cloned counterpart. Look at your orchid as a meter of health its color,shape,size and viabilty will tell you more then keikies or other standard test sometimes can…hope this helps.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 18:58:43 +0000

Lol keiki’s are not always stress induced. its a natural orchid reproduction technique

By: Diane

Diane — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 16:38:54 +0000

I have a Phal bought in July 2009, it had two original flower spikes -almost finished ( bargan basement!). Since then it has sent up spike after spike and has not been out of flower. Along with the current flower , secondry growths were made from the trimmed spikes which also flowered. Recently eight keikis have formed, 4 have been detatched and potted, 4 are slowly growing roots. Question, can an orchid ” flower itself to death” ?
The plant looks really healthy, green and perky.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:49:48 +0000

That depends on whether or not you intend to raise the keiki. Remove it if you simply intend to care for the parent orchid. You can re-plant your keiki as soon as it has roots, there’s no real need to wait.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:46:11 +0000

Although your orchid looks healthy, it must have experienced some sort of stress to promote the growth of the Keiki. I would remove it so that valuable nutrients remain with the parent orchid.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 22:44:03 +0000

This is not abnormal. It will produce roots, but you may want to remove the Keiki and take care of the parent plant unless you want to raise another orchid.

By: Kathleen Morgan

Kathleen Morgan — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:27:56 +0000

My small phal gave me a lovely flower stem at the same time she started the keiki. She has been brought back to health after a year of tender care. She is a healthy plant today. Now what to do with the keiki.

By: alicia

alicia — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:42:03 +0000

I just found your site! I have a large keiki I let grow out until it has 2-inch roots. My mother plant also has a flower stalk that recently sprouted. Should I wait for it to bloom before removing the keiki? Or remove the keiki now?