Cutting loose my Keiki - Orchid Board

mjgord51 · #1 03-22-2022, 12:26 PM

Newbie here, We have a Keiki growing on one of the stems and I would like to know can I just wiggle/twist it off or is it best to cut part of the stem with it? It now has two roots 3 to 4 inches and two more just coming out.
Any help is appreciated.

Dimples · #2 03-22-2022, 01:04 PM

None of my plants have grown a keiki, but if they do my plan is to clip the flower spike just above and below to remove it when the time comes. Less chance of damaging the keiki that way. Good luck!

camille1585 · #3 03-22-2022, 02:02 PM

Safest method is to cut the stem above and below the keiki. Twisting does work, but increases the odds of damaging it. I usually chicken out and end up whipping out the scissors instead!

SG in CR · #4 03-22-2022, 02:27 PM

On Dendrobiums I've had a keiki die when I just removed it from the p-bulb. Now I just cut off the bulb an inch or two below and the added energy seems to help the keiki make the transition to it's new home better. I would imagine that the same would apply to stem keikis. The keiki can draw sugars and minerals from the still live stem while it's growing and acclimating to being separated.

mjgord51 · #5 03-22-2022, 04:10 PM

The twisting off idea I thought to do is because the Orch. plant is starting to grow more out shoots or is beginning to re bloom again. This Orch. plant (Phal) has two lower original stems that wasn't cut off after last years flowers and one is getting a out shoot stem in the middle of it and the other one w/keiki has another out shoot stem just below the keiki and also on the tip is starting to grow. Kinda don't want to cut off the keiki and loose the future growth. I don't know if the stem having the keiki when it is cut will die off and jeopardize the future new out stem. Kinda "nervous" at this point not knowing what will happen after a cutting of the stem.
The first pic is its last years Bloom "keiki's mommy", second to forth pics are this years growth w/keiki now.

Roberta · #6 03-22-2022, 05:46 PM

I agree with others that the best bet for the keiki is to cut the stem above and below the keiki and pot that up. Then let the plant do whatever it wants (like that side shoot that will give you more flowers) and enjoy the show. At this point, everything that you get is a bonus. Enjoy the show.

mjgord51 · #7 03-27-2022, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

I agree with others that the best bet for the keiki is to cut the stem above and below the keiki and pot that up. Then let the plant do whatever it wants (like that side shoot that will give you more flowers) and enjoy the show. At this point, everything that you get is a bonus. Enjoy the show.

One more question about small hand held fine misters, good or bad idea? Our house only has a "Evaporative Cooler" (swamp cooler) lol that only is on in the hotter summer mounts. Temps can get in the low 100's though and I also have ceiling fans in every room except the Kitchen to move the air around. Average house temps are 75* +/- some all year around. Winter here (3500 ft. above see level) in Yucca Valley can & has dropped into single digits before but house temps are somewhere at 75* average.

Thanks again for any Info. Marvin aka MJ

Roberta · #8 03-27-2022, 10:49 PM

Any misting that you do by hand is not going to have much of an effect on the plants. The "humidity" will be gone as soon as you stop applying it, Anything you do to raise humidity around the plants you would need operate most of the time, especially during the day. For a small area, I wonder if the vaporizers that people use to raise humidity in sleeping areas (like for kids) could help,

mjgord51 · #9 03-28-2022, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

Any misting that you do by hand is not going to have much of an effect on the plants. The "humidity" will be gone as soon as you stop applying it, Anything you do to raise humidity around the plants you would need operate most of the time, especially during the day. For a small area, I wonder if the vaporizers that people use to raise humidity in sleeping areas (like for kids) could help,

So am I wrong by thinking I need to give my Orchids a little shower or extra moisture from time to time in between waterings, is it beneficial to them for a extra mist here and there? Just thought it would be helpful.

tmoney · #10 03-28-2022, 11:48 AM

howdy, just my

but for the misting bit, we usually spray the seedlings and and new acquisitions for while, but not misting. usually we spray a good bit just on the media surface and any aerial roots making sure its good and soaked. i agree it probly does evaporate (as the media looks dry 9 hourse later when we get home usually, except on rainy days) but i personally feel that the bit of moisture on the top can slow the drying process of the media in the middle of the root zone. this only applies to seedling and stuff, the older mature phals we have we dont spray.

for keikis, no real experience to share. we have one dendriobium that we took about a month and a half ago, and they are doing well. just twisted the keiki off the stem by hand. a couple small phal speices we got were from keikis and from a pro grower, they had about a 1 cm piece of the tem attached and most have done good that way. take that for what its worth and heed the advice of the more experienced growers!! best of luck with the new plants!