How big before a Phal keiki blooms?

[cb977]

Apparently not very big at all!

This is my Phal equestris 'Three Times A Lady x Blue Too' which was a gift from Gin a few years ago and is almost never out of bloom. The last cycle gave me two spikes and each one had three branches grow off it. Now, five of those six have keikis growing and there are two new spikes full of buds getting ready to start the show again.

While watering today, I notice "something" behind the leaf on one of the keikis...lo and behold...a bud!

The pictures show (in order) the whole plant, then one side, then the other side and the last photo is of the keiki growing a bud. The largest root is about 1/4" long and the only other root is less than half that! The only thing showing is the green tip!

If I had to leave my house and could only take one chid, this is the one

I'd hate to leave any of the Chocolate Drops but this baby must endure!

[OdessaOrchid]

Wow! It is amazing how many kiekis you have. Did you put kieki paste on the stems or did it just happen? Congratulations on such a great plant.

[cb977]

I did nothing special to it...this plant is a superstar!
It is literally almost always blooming and for that month or so that the blooms are gone it's growing keikis. I'm totally shocked by finding a bud on that tiny little keiki. Gin said it gives a whole new meaning to the word mini

I was wondering why the 6th branch didn't keiki but with 2 spikes and this little guy, I guess I'll let it go

[Zoi2]

That is one super cool phal
Joann

[natasha]

wow, so many keikis... i thought a flowering keiki is "normal". two of my den keikis flower too. one with only one bud. the other is one whole spray! anyway, i didn't have any phal keiki yet, let alone 5! you should teach us how to get more keikis... then i can swap with friends or sell them

[camille1585]

Phal equestris is the most awesome phal there is. Always in bloom, always keiking. Sue , I have an equestris hybrid that did the same thing! There were 2 blooms on it less than 3 months after the keiki started growing.
Too bad I don't live in the US, or else I would have gradly relieved you of one or two of those keikis! Ramon sent me 2 equestris keikis a bit over a month ago, and they both have spikes already.

[Sandy4453]

Sue, I've got something similar going on with one of my Phals (NoID but it definitely is be tris X ?). These buds are growing off this tiny keiki. Yours is huge compared to this one.

[cb977]

Originally Posted by Sandy4453

Sue, I've got something similar going on with one of my Phals (NoID but it definitely is be tris X ?). These buds are growing off this tiny keiki. Yours is huge compared to this one.

WOW!!! That is just way too cool, Sandy!
I love it!

I've had keikis bloom in the past but never with almost non-existent roots

[RosieC]

Wow, those buds (Sue's and Sandy's) are just growing straight out the Keiki. That's cool

[Amanda L]

That is fantastic Sue and Sandy!!! This really gives me hope for my keiki, the last remnant of my first phal. Great growing you two!!