Is this a basal keiki?

[Dollythehun]

I've had keikis on stems and keikis from the base that developed their own roots. This has grown through a leaf and seems attached to mama. Jkofferdahl tells me not to worry, so I won't. However, I am curious as to what the progression of this may be. Will it kill the mother? Develop roots? Will it just have two "crowns" (for lack of a better term)?

The care of this plant (my oldest phal) has probably been the same for 10 years. It doesn't seem stressed but I did notice it didn't grow a new leaf this summer.

[jcec1]

I have a couple of phals that have done this, one is below bark level so I can't tell if if has roots, the other is above and has roots. Mothers seems fine, one of the keikeis has flowered too, so they are basically turning into multi crown plants. If you get spikes on both at the same time it should be a really nice show.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Think of basal keikis (this is one) as branches to a plant, rather than offspring that will need to be separated. I have basal keikis that have been attached for a few years with no roots on the keikis, but looking healthy.

[Dollythehun]

This is what I suspected. I've stepped up my care since being on the OB. I can see a positive difference in the plants but, this was a surprise. Always been a strong grower.

[estación seca]

Yes, this is how happy Phals normally grow. It's generally called an offset.

A keiki is a vegetative growth in an unusual place. Phals normally produce new growths from the base. Dendrobiums normally produce new growths from the rhizome. Phals may produce keikiis from non-flowered nodes on flower stalks, and Dendrobiums may produce kekiis from nodes above leaves that normally might produce flowers.

[Dollythehun]

If it's happy, I'm happy. Thanks all.