Yellowing flower spike with keikis

[Pixelcatz]

Hello,

So long story short about two months ago a friend gave me this orchid because she knows I really like them and because it was sprouting a baby.

I had to re-pot it because the pot was literally disintegrating and the roots were rotted bad. It seemed stable and happy until a few days ago when I noticed the spike starting to yellow. Is there any hope for either plant? The baby hasn't sprouted any roots yet otherwise I'd remove it.

[jkofferdahl]

If it was mine, I'd take a small osmunda raft and attach the keiki to it, then leave the keiki attached to the stem as long as possible. I'd moisten the osmunda regularly. With a bit of luck, the keiki would begin to root to the osmunda raft before the stem dies.

If it was mine, I'd pot the mother plant in a real pot, too.

[Pixelcatz]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

If it was mine, I'd take a small osmunda raft and attach the keiki to it, then leave the keiki attached to the stem as long as possible. I'd moisten the osmunda regularly. With a bit of luck, the keiki would begin to root to the osmunda raft before the stem dies.

If it was mine, I'd pot the mother plant in a real pot, too.

I never updated but I just wanted to say thanks for your help; I did manage to save both plants! I moved across country with them and they've been slow growing but the mother has finally made a new flower spike. I'm really excited because I have never seen flowers from it before.

[fishmom]

Good job! How did you treat the keiki to save it? I should think that would be pretty gratifying!

[Dollythehun]

Congrats!

[Pixelcatz]

Originally Posted by fishmom

Good job! How did you treat the keiki to save it? I should think that would be pretty gratifying!

Thanks! So I did as recommended above, I left the keiki on the mother stem for as long as I could, it still hadn't produced any roots so I eventually cut the stem off as it was mostly dead. I had a hard time keeping moisture up so I ended up keeping it partially suspended in water until it grew some roots. I thought it was going to die for awhile but it toughed it out and lived.

As for the mother plant I just cinnamon bombed and hoped for the best. I guess it has finally forgiven me since this is the first flower spike it has made since I got it.

[emmajs243]

Oh how exciting!!! And how far they've come!! The mother plants roots definitely look much happier!! Way to go on saving them!!! Oh that would make me so stressed! I can't believe you were successful! Just the thought of a keiki with no roots on osmunda while the spike is dying.....oh man! Makes my heart race with worry!

Good work!!! You should definitely be proud! I would guess no matter what the flowers look like, you will always have a special love for that plant!

[Pixelcatz]

Originally Posted by emmajs243

Oh how exciting!!! And how far they've come!! The mother plants roots definitely look much happier!! Way to go on saving them!!! Oh that would make me so stressed! I can't believe you were successful! Just the thought of a keiki with no roots on osmunda while the spike is dying.....oh man! Makes my heart race with worry!

Good work!!! You should definitely be proud! I would guess no matter what the flowers look like, you will always have a special love for that plant!

Oh yes, this plant was a gift from one of my most favorite professors so it is doubly special.