Question
Dear Mr. King,

How are you?  

I am a novice when in comes to the caring of orchids but somehow my plants are still thriving and have treated us with many blossoms.  I've noticed that the keikis need to be separated from the mother and the pot looks to be overly crowded.  Please advise me on how I should proceed with the separation, without harming both keiki and mother.  Also, is it safe to separate them at any stage of their growth?

Thank you for your consideration and sharing of your expertise.

Best regards,
Marianne

Answer
Marianne, thank you for your question.  I am well.  Thank you.

Keikis are best separated from the old flower spike when they have leaves at least two inches long and roots with green growing tips. They can be removed by a slight twist ot two near the place where they join the old flower spike.  You will need to be careful in doing this so as not to injure the delicate roots.  You could also cut it off with a razor blade at that same location. If some of the keikis are not that size, a bit of patience will result in growth to sufficient size. Be sure to pot the keikis in a pot just large enough for their roots.  Use a seedling grade of orchid potting mix, plant in a well-drained pot.