Question
QUESTION: I bought my wife an orchid at our local walmart, not sure of the species. 4 or 5 thick broad leaves with 2 flower stems. Question: after the flowers fell off, both stems produce plants that are growing from the tops of the flower stems. Should I clip those and plant them in soil or allow them to grow from the flower stems? Thank you for your input. I have asked several green-thumbs and they have never seen this happen before.

ANSWER: Hello Lee,

If the orchid has thick broad leaves, it sounds like it may be a phalaenopsis orchid that you bought for your wife.  

If the growths on the stems begin to grow leaves, what you have are called keikis (baby in Hawaiian).  Allow them to grow on the stems until there is one or more roots over 2 inches long then you can remove them by gently twisting and pulling until the separate from the stem.  At times they don't want to be separated so you may have to clip or cut them off.  Once off, put them in their own little pot with fresh orchid potting media.  Since they will be fairly small, I would recommend putting them in a 2.5 inch to 3 inch pot and when they grow too big for it, move them on to 4 inch pots.  

Hope this helped.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply. The "keikis" started growing about 3 months ago or so and one of them already has a root about an inch long. I will wait until they reach about 2 inches and then give them their own pot. As far as the flower stems go on the mother plant, do they ever need to be trimmed or do I just allow them to flower and go barron from year to year. Do you think it will continue to grow keikis? We did not have much luck with our first orchid. After the flowers fell off, the plant died. That is why I was suprised to see our new one growing "keikis". Thanks again for all of your advice.

Answer
Hi again Lee,

When you get ready to pot the keiki, be sure to put it in a small pot because too large a pot could cause problems.  With only a few roots, it will take longer for them to take up water and thus the potting media will stay wet longer than a larger phaleanopsis in a larger pot.  Make sense?  

Well, that shows that you are getting the hang of growing orchids!  The first one died and now your second one is having babies!  (grin)  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.