New orchid growing out of base of original orchid
 

Hi everyone, I need some advice. Despite owning an orchid for several years, I'm still kind of a newbie and I don't know what to do about the latest development with my orchid

I have a phalaenopsis orchid that I've somehow managed to keep alive for the past 10 years. It has moved all across the country with me and has flowered many times although not recently, I have repotted 2-3 times, and despite the climate changes and intermittent neglect, seems to be trucking along (although the leaves are long and pointy now instead of broad and round, is this a problem?)

About 6-8 months ago, it started popping out some tiny leaves from the main body. It did this once before (about 8 years ago) and the "new" leaf group did get to a pretty good size (about 1 inch) but before I could find help/take it to someone, the little leaf bundle kind of died acutely within a few days and my orchid never attempted such shenanigans again until now.

I have been reading about keikis and am wondering if I should separate this new leaf bundle from the "parent" now that it has several nice little roots of its own.

My conundrums are, however:

1. This keiki (if that is what this is) is not on a spike as I have seen discussed in other places, but is physically attached to the side of the "parent" plant.

2. One of the little roots has wormed its way between some of the parent roots and is climbing upwards into the base of the parent.

Is it too late to separate the two? Will attempts to separate kill both?


Please let me know what you think. I think I do have anything I would need for an attempted separation (sterile scalpels, new potting medium, little pot w/ good drainage, no other plant in the house to contaminate it, good access to dappled sunlight, etc.)

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

Many Phals normally clump from the base when they get bigger. I would not separate them. You get more flowers.

Your Phal can flower every year. There is a good thread here about growing Phals. From the left yellow menu pick Forums, then Beginners. Look near the top for sticky thread The Phal abuse stops here.

Why seperate it? As ES says, you'll get a better show if you let it attached. Are the flowers of this plant rather smallish and pink. If so, one of the parents could be Doritus pulcherrima which tend to have somewhat slender leaves, the somewhat upright growth habit of the leaves that your plant exhibits, and the habit of putting out new growths from the base of the older.

Although such growths are often called a basal keiki, it is probably best to think of it as a branch off the main plant.

If it were mine, I would let it grow, rather than remove it.

Thank you folks so much - I'm so glad I asked instead of doing orchid surgery. Anything I can do/need to do to prevent this offshoot from dying like the last one, or eating the parent like a parasite?

I think that normally the off-shoots won't die like that. If the growing conditions are good, then both plants are expected to do well - indefinitely.

Just consider, temperature, humidity, air-movement, and state of media/roots (too dry? too wet?), fertiliser and maybe mag-cal schedules ...... and also any attacking organisms (mites etc).

Here is one not quite like the OP image. Note new root tips from both the main plant and side growth.
https://i.postimg.cc/dt4JJhmt/20210723-113317.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/wT66KXNG/20210723-113347.jpg