Question
keiki
Hello- I rescued four orchids, potted in pairs in glass bowls with moss and rocks from getting tossed out on 5th ave NYC and brought them to my house upstate as they looked like they might survive with a little TLC. I trimmed the rotted roots and cut back the plants where they looked dead. (I have no experience with orchids) Anyway, two plants have survived, and one of them has grown a keiki. (I just learned what it is on your website!) The keiki has four roots that are five to six inches long already so I know I should transplant it. Underneath the baby, it looks like a new bud is forming on the parent stem. How should I cut the baby off? With scissors? How far above the new bud should I cut? Should I pot it in a similar mixture of moss and rocks? Thank you!
AnswerNadege, you are a rescuer after my own heart-- good for you. As for the keiki, before cutting I would try a twist or two right where the keiki joins the flower spike. Often times, the keiki will separate from the parent spike at that point. If you are unsuccessful, try cutting it at that point with a sterile cutting instrument. This will enable you to remove the keiki without damaging the flower spike.
With regard to the potting container, it needs to allow for good drainage so pot each of your phalaenopsis in a plastic pot that has lots of drainage holes in it including the keiki. Unlike most house plants, orchids need a good flow of air through the potting mix. A commercial orchid potting mix is preferred since it is prepared so as to be coarse enough to permit air movement and to retain some moisture while permitting most to flow out. The singular, most important cause of root rot is an excessively wet potting mix. Moss usually is problemmatic as it tends to compact restricting air flow. This might be prevented with the use of the rocks but moss also tends to dry out too quickly or remain too wet too long. Just keep that in mind as you proceed.
