Growing keikis - Orchid Board

bil · #1 11-05-2016, 02:59 PM

Interesting note on propagation by keikki. I have in the past always cut these off the cane and planted them up in the usual fine bark mix, however I decided to try something different after someone on here mentioned not removing the keiki, but planting the whole cane.

So, I have been messing about with mounts, and decided to put a couple of den phals and Den Nobiles onto branch mounts with moss. The results have been impressive. In both cases the severed keikkis that went into pots weren't going well a year after planting whereas the severed canes that went onto the mounts are throwing out roots left right and centre.
In addition, the Den phal keiki is the same size as the one cut off and planted a year ago, and is even throwing a flower spike.

katrina · #2 11-05-2016, 08:23 PM

Yep...I've removed whole canes when separating keikis. It makes sense that they grow faster w/the reserves from the cane "feeding" it/them. Amazing the difference, eh?

gngrhill · #3 11-06-2016, 12:39 AM

I wish I'd heard about this yesterday

I just took 2 keikis off of two of my nobile Dens and potted them. lol

bil · #4 11-06-2016, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katrina

Yep...I've removed whole canes when separating keikis. It makes sense that they grow faster w/the reserves from the cane "feeding" it/them. Amazing the difference, eh?

Yeah, really, really impressive.

I don't know how much the being on a mount improves things, but I am getting improved performance from most of my mounted orchids.

rbarata · #5 11-06-2016, 08:54 AM

Quote:

I don't know how much the being on a mount improves things, but I am getting improved performance from most of my mounted orchids.

Orchids suitable to be mounted are epiphytes so that's natural they grow better. We put them in pots just for convenience (easier to maintain in a home seeting) and the bark we put in there (and other stuff) serves only to give the plant a support.