BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Orchids My Keiki!

I have a beautiful Keiki growing from my Phalaenopsis, and I finally decided to cut it off last night because I noticed that after the plant had pushed out a Keiki AND put out flowers on one spike, the leaves looked droopy. The Keiki has two nice leaves and one root about 1- 1/2 inches long. It also grew two of its own spikes that actually look like buds might be coming out!! Anyway, I really really want it to survive. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!! How much water etc!

I'm going to guess from your post that you have a species phalaneopsis, perhaps an equestris. I can only tell you what I would do if it is, indeed, a Phal. equestris. I'd plant the keiki in sphag moss so as to control the moisture. Keep it damp at all times.......not wet, and don't let it go completely dry. New roots should start to show up soon.
Hope this helps,
Al

Did you say that the keiki has two of its own spikes? If you cut the keiki off of the mother plant and pot it up, be sure to cut those spikes off the keiki, as well. If you don't, the poor thing will still be trying to develop flowers when it should be spending all of its resources on root growth.

I would agree, though you may want to wait until the keiki has at least another root so it can survive on its own. Another option is to 'stake' it down in a smaller sphagnum-filled pot, while it is still attached to the mother plant, and only separate it from the mother plant once it has established itself.

It also depends on where phalaenopsislover lives - an equestris keiki would not survive in damp sphagnum where I live.
Does sound like equestris, though. They can make really nice specimens with many blooming keikis left on the 'mother'.