Question
Hello, Jim!  I wrote to you back in August last year about my office phal growing a secondary spike off the main stem and am happy to report that it bloomed beautifully for more than a month.  It was living in our atrium area, which receives indirect sun and lots of air movement as people come in and out of the doors.  When the temperature got down in the 50's in late fall, I put it back in my windowless office, as winter Kansas weather and orchids don't mix too well, and I put it in front of a tall floor fountain and watered it sparingly.  In about January, the upper part of the stem began looking brown, so I cut it off just above where the secondary stem had grown, leaving about a foot and a half of green stem.  About two weeks ago I noticed a leaf coming out of the top, and now I have a baby (no roots yet) with one leaf about 3 inches long and a second leaf just starting to come out.  The plant looks healthy and I am an expectant parent, but my question is this:  At a garden show, I asked a supposed orchid expert about when and how to separate the baby at the approproate time, and was informed that I needed to get rid of it right away as it would suck all the energy out of the mother plant.

I really don't want to commit infanticide - both mother and baby look great and I am looking forward to having two plants. I should add that at this time I have not yet used any fertilizer for fear I overdo it, as everything looks good.  What's your opinion on this?  I attribute my success to your good advice last year, by the way :)  Thanks!

Answer
Hi Kim,

That's great to hear, a success story like yours!  

You're doing a good job caring for it, keep it up!  Yes, moving from the atrium area back to your office was a good decision.  As for the baby (keiki), leave it alone until it has several roots that are over 2 inches long.  Before removing it, have a small pot and some orchid potting media at the ready.  To remove it, hold the stem with one hand and the keiki with the other, gently twist it while pulling it away.  It should break off after 3 to 5 twists but if it doesn't, use a cutter or scissor to separate it.  Put it in the pot with media and grow it alongside the mother phal.  

As for fertilizer, it would be a good idea to feed it once in a while to give it boost of energy to grow and bloom.  Look for a balance type orchid fertilizer but use about half the amount recommended on the label as phalaenopsis do not require lots of it.  For just the one and later the baby, I'd suggest mixing a level teaspoon in a quart of water.  

There are some orchid growers who strongly believe it is best to remove the stem soon after the flowers are gone.  It does take some of the energy from the mother plant to support and grow a baby, just like it does for human mothers.  But, as long as the mother is healthy and strong, she usually has no problems having a baby.  

NO!!!!  I am not responsible for your success, YOU are!!!!  I really do mean that, you are the one who is doing all the work, I'm just sitting here at my computer.  

Keep up the great work!!!  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.