Phal. equestris gino with keiki
 

Ok, so on the label it says "phalaenopsis equestris var trilabiata 'gino'", but I read this is just called Gino? Confused by that but anyway, my question is about the apparent keiki (with spike! :D) on her.

I bought her last Saturday (along with 8 other orchids :D) and because she's in spike haven't repotted her, but it isn't actually her with the spike it's the keiki, at least I am pretty sure it's a keiki. Assuming it is when the flowering has finished can I remove the keiki? Are the roots long enough? There is no apparent spike that the keiki is on though, which confuses me, it is very close to the mother plant. Are the roots long enough? and if they are ariel roots how do I pot her, do I just sit them on top of the bark and wait for her to send out new roots to go under it?

The mother herself looks almost like 2 plants, but if that's the case it looks like there was a terminal spike. There are massive roots mostly coming from the same point on her, which kind of looks like the base of a plant to my inexpert eye. At the top of this part there is a tiny brown dead leaf in the crown.

At the bottom there is very sad looking leaf and the mother plant doesn't look that good in herself at all, the keiki looks very healthy though, and bigger than her.

I hope this all made sense, there are pics to show what I mean. I haven't seen a Phal with a browned dead leaf in the crown before, I am a bit worried about what this signifies (but as there is the keiki I bought her assuming I could at least have the keiki saved).

Looks like the plant had a terminal spike and put out a basal keiki at the top of the plant. Basal keikis come directly out the side of the plant, they are not on spikes like a normal keiki would be. There is no need to separate it, you will only have one viable plant anyway if the mother really had a terminal spike. She won't grow anymore, so no more spikes. The sad looking leaf is likely normal leaf aging ,and it will probably yellow and drop off soon.

So I wouldn't touch the plant at all since it looks very healthy overall, and just enjoy it as it is! :)

Skirril - You are correct in that your plants correct name is Phal equestris 'Gino' JC/AOS. Someone along the way added the var trilabiata as a way to indicate that the plant was peloric and that the two petals mimic the lip.

I agree with Camille, just leave the mother plant alone for all the reasons that she stated plus, the mother plant may very well send out additional basal keikis.

If you have not seen this clone of equestris before, you will be very surprised at how it looks. It's adorable, enjot it.

Where did you buy this equestris from? Just saw a pic of it, and being an equestris fanatic, I want it! :drool:

Oh damn, I thought basal keikis were only at the base of the plant :( I was looking forward to potting up my first keiki (even though I hadn't grown it).
I did google for a pic of it before I bought, I can't wait, the flowers look so cute, and on such a little plant, adorable is the word!

Camille, it was at an orchid show, so I don't know if you can get the same on online, but the seller was Ratcliff orchids.

What happens if/when the mother plant starts to die back? (This happens with plants which have terminal spiked right?) is it then safe to remove the keiki?

Terminal plants don't die off instantaneously, they just stop growing new leaves out of the crown. So mother could keep going a good long time, and even the day when she has no leaves her roots will probably still carry water up to baby. By then I suppose that baby's roots will have buried themselves in the pot as well.

I do admit that it's a very odd spot for a basal keiki on a Phal!

I know Ratcliff orchids (though I have never ordered there) so maybe I'll see if they have some more.