Is this a keiki?
 

Hi everyone, :waving
Is this a keiki on my oncidium? (pictures attached) If so, what do I do? Should I try to remove it and if so, will you please tell me how to do it and what I should use to cut it off? :scratchhead: If it will be just as well to leave it on the plant, I might tend to choose this option because the thought of me trying to do surgery on a healthy plant doesn't make me feel too comfortable since I've never done it before. :shock: If removing it from the mother plant would be the best thing to do, though, I would certainly give it a shot. Anyway, I guess I need the practice. :roll: If it's not a keiki...then what is it? I would appreciate your help.
Vicki

Hi Vicki,
That just looks like a normal new growth on your oncidium. Sometimes they start a bit high out of the medium like that, but eventually the roots will grow down into the medium. It has to stay on, if you ever want to see flowers again! On oncs, each bulb only sets one (or 2) spikes, and then you have to wait for the new growth to mature (or sometimes even semi mature) to get more spikes.

I agree with Camille, it is a new growth. That is great news though because that means flowers next year/season! So, good growing.

If you were to have a keiki in the future, they are quite easy to remove, and generally don't harm the mother plant or keiki. All you need is a really sharp knife and either rubbing alcohol or fire to steralize the blade. I prefer rubbing alcohol and a really sharp Buck knife (that is the brand). I got it at Sports Authority and it is just a regular hunting knife that folds up, but super sharp. Anyway, steralize the blades (if you choose alcohol you can use a cotton ball or paper towel to wipe off the blade). When the roots on the keiki reach a good 2 inches to 3 inches long, you simply look for the base of the keiki, insert knife and slice! Sometimes, the slice isn't really easy and you kind if just pry the keiki off. So, in the future you will be prepared!

I think is a new root:photo:

Camille
 

Hi Camille,
Thanks....you taught me something! :biggrin:

I see now that the roots were what confused me. I didn't know that the roots on new growths were sometimes exposed, so that's why I was guessing a keiki. So, "you live, you learn"! Thanks again....
Vicki

Jenn
 

Wow....I'll actually have blooms next season?! Gr8! They will be my first! Thanks for the encouragement, too....you make me wanna go take another look at my plants! lol

I appreciate you telling me about keikis, so now I'll know what to do if I get one sometime (if I remember what to do, that is....I'm getting more forgetful as each day passes, it seems)

Thanks again for your help.
Vicki

Azul
 

Thanks Azul! Roots are ALWAYS good, aren't they?! :biggrin:
Vicki

I'm almost sure that Oncidium's don't produce kiekis which are fully contained plants that will eventually grow separate from the mother plant. This looks like normal growth, to me...a good thing!

Vicky, bless your heart if I didnt see you were from Alabamer I wouldn't have recognized you. I just love your new avatar. What's her name and how come you ain't got no gallery yet? I know you've got lots of pictures.....nice seein ya:gh