Baby Orchid (Keiki?) Not Growing Roots

[Daftcowuk]

Hi, hope someone can help...

I have an orchid (sorry, no idea what species though), which started sprouting new leaves out of the stem bit a few months ago. From what I have already read online, I am guessing this is a baby orchid, yeah?

Well, if it is, it has never grown any roots yet. The biggest leave is already about 1.5 inches long, but it has 3 other much smaller leaves too. Would I be right in thinking the no roots bit isn't normal?

As much as I am totally guilty of often forgetting to water the mum plant, and then probably over-watering at times too (which I understand has probably triggered the growth of the baby), it has almost always had lots of gorgeous flowers for the couple of years I have had it. Even now with the baby growing, it is flowering and there are new buds developing on another stem.

I would like to try to keep the baby, so how do I get it to grow its own roots?

I have got pics I can post if it would help?

Thanks.

[nenella]

Hi and Welcome to the OB!
The Keikie will eventuallly put out roots... you just need to be patient!! This can take lots of months. Also when it does start putting out roots you should wait until they are several inches long before cutting it off from mummy & potting up.
Good luck & keep us posted.

[WhiteRabbit]

Yes, it sounds like you have a keiki (baby) ...
It can take a while before the keiki starts roots. I think all you can do is care for the parent plant and wait

[Val]

I have read that blooming and growing roots are regulated by antagonistic hormones, which means the plant cannot initiate both at the same time.
My guess is that the roots will start growing just after blooming is over.
If the mother plant looks weak, I would experiment with cutting the stem and letting the plant focus on growing roots.

[Daftcowuk]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I guess I will just need to be even more patient that what I have already been!! It feels like I have been waiting for ages already for the roots to start growing! Don't know how I will cope when I am waiting for the baby to start flowering!!!!!!!

I was begining to think it might be the cold, dry weather or that I needed to give the plant special food or something... But if you all reckon it's time it needs, then I guess I will just have to wait! Lol!

I will come back and update you all if the roots do indeed start to grow when the plant stops blooming.

Thanks.

[Daftcowuk]

Eventually!! My baby orchid has started growing roots!!!

All the flowers fell off the mummy plant for a few weeks not long after my original post (back in Feb), but there were already new flower buds on another stem by then. So, it has pretty much been flowering the whole time, and is still flowering now.

For months and months there was no sign of the baby trying to grow any roots. Then eventually, about 2 weeks ago, I noticed 2 little roots had started to grow, with the longest only being about 1cm long. Now, the longest root is over an inch, with the other not far behind it!

So, it did grow the roots while it was still flowering. It must either just have been time for it to start growing the roots, or it could be to do with the weather here being a lot warmer and more humid recently.

So, what is next now? Do I wait for it to fall off, or should I cut it off at some point? Do I need any special food to help the baby plant?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

[Rowangreen]

Photos would be a good idea: it would be nice to see what type of orchid you have!

[mburgess210]

I have what I believe is a keiki sent to me from Hawaii. I have no idea what type of Orchid and it has some roots now but it never had any leaves. I removed it from the terrarium as I think that environment was to moist. It developed the roots in the "t" . Perhaps I should put it back in the "t" and wait for leaves? Any suggestions would be helpful.

[RosieC]

As Rowan said, a picture would be good to help us advise, however we've recently found that you need 5 posts before you can add pictures so you might need a couple more posts first.

Generally the advise is that there should be 3" of roots (1 at 3", 3 at 1" or...). When it's ready to be potted up you should be able to cut the spike close either side of it, or sometimes they will just twist off.

[mburgess210]

I have just learned that this plant is a Bamboo Orchid and as such there will be no leaves only bamboo growth with orchids to follow upon maturity. Thank you for your response.