Curious Situation - Orchid Board

BikerDoc5968 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 08:50 PM

This began growing about a week to 10 days ago...at least that is when I noticed it and originally thought it was going to be a flower spike. As it has elongated and increased in size, it now appears to be a pseudobulb growing from the top of an older pseudobulb... roots and all! Maybe this is something that can happen with cattleya and I'm just inexperienced so don't know these things.... any ideas... is this like a "terminal spike on a Phalaenopsis?????

PaphMadMan · #2 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 09:07 PM

You've got a keiki, a node where a flower spike might have developed or that might normally stay dormant decided to give you a new little plant instead. Somewhat uncommon in Cattleya types, but they do happen. They are far more common in Dendrobiums or on Phalaenopsis spikes, for instance. Just another way for the plant to reproduce if conditions aren't quite right for flowering for some reason.

cowboy51278 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 09:13 PM

Is the a plant a mericlone?

BikerDoc5968 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowboy51278

Is the a plant a mericlone?

Don't know... I'm not good at stuff like that.... knowing a plant's origins...sorry

cowboy51278 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BikerDoc5968

Don't know... I'm not good at stuff like that.... knowing a plant's origins...sorry

Just curious.....I've never seen a Cattleya do that but orchids suprise me all the time. Mericlones are especially prone to odd behavior and mutations for obvious reasons.

greenbean · #6 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 03:25 AM

I've seen this a lot with Cattleya and other sympodial orchids in a greenhouse here at my university. Many are very unhappy plants, so they are making a last ditch effort to reproduce the only way conditions will allow, by making keikis in place of flowers. I wish I could smuggle them out of there and save them!

trdyl · #7 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 01:29 PM

Wow! After 33 years I finally see a Cattleya keiki.

BikerDoc5968 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenbean

I've seen this a lot with Cattleya and other sympodial orchids in a greenhouse here at my university. Many are very unhappy plants, so they are making a last ditch effort to reproduce the only way conditions will allow, by making keikis in place of flowers. I wish I could smuggle them out of there and save them!

Evan, I sure hope this isn't the case with my cattleya... currently, it looks pretty good but as we all know, "Looks can be deceiving!"

RenéeS · #9 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 06:18 PM

Wow, never seen that on a Cattleya! :O
From what there is to see on the photo your plant doesn't look unhealthy to me, nice green leaves and a nice looking bulb behind the keiki. What type of Cattleya is it?

BikerDoc5968 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RenéeS

Wow, never seen that on a Cattleya! :O
From what there is to see on the photo your plant doesn't look unhealthy to me, nice green leaves and a nice looking bulb behind the keiki. What type of Cattleya is it?

Eplc. Volcano Trick 'Fireball' (Lc. Trick or Treat x Epi. stamfordianum)

This is a link to another person on OB who posted pictures back in January 2009

Eplc. Volcano Trick 'Fireball'