Dendrobium Keiki Removal

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello all,

I have these two keikis on this Den. Rainbow dance “Hanamizuki” that I would like to take off. Both keikis have significant roots (the right one’s roots are not visible in the photo but they are the same size as the left one’s roots.)

I have gotten conflicting information on how to take them off. Some people say that I should cut them off and some others say to twist them off. Do I cut the cane and inch above and below and pot them with the cane fragments still attached? Do I just leave the cane intact and twist them off?

[aliceinwl]

I twist mine off. Before you start, try to make sure there are no obstructions the roots or cane will hit when turning it 360 degrees. I’ve found the wound on both the parent plant and keiki is pretty minimal when twisting. Once the keikis are severed, I let them sit 24 hrs to give the wound a chance to heal, then I pot them up.

If they have particularly unruly roots, I’ll soak them and rig something with twine and clips to keep them in traction while I slowly bend the roots over the course of a day so that they’ll fit in the pot. Mine tend to sulk if their roots get damaged so the extra effort it worth it to me.

Good luck!

P.S. I bought one that had been potted up with a severed cane attached. I don’t know if this was a fluke, but the canes on it started rotting from the base up. I found the rotting severed cane when I unpotted it. I ended up losing 2/3rds of the canes. Luckily most of the dying canes managed to produce big keikis on the way out, so I have a nice pot of those.