Phal. Keiki's

[jamesheller]

I have a Phal Taisuco Egret x Phal. Amabilis that I purchased from Trader Joes about 10 months ago. After the first blooms died off, the orchid started growing a Kiki. The Kiki is now about 8 month old and has flowered.

Is it typical that a Kiki will bloom its first year? I have always thought that it took about 4 years for a Phal. to produce its first flowers.

Jim

I tried to post a picture, but the system wont allow me to do so.

[mayres]

Is the kiki living on its own or still attached to the mother plant? I have seen them bloom fairly soon (in less than a year) while still attached to the parent plant. In my case, once separated from the mother it took about 18 months to bloom. mike

[jerrymeola]

Phals flower much sooner than 4 years. If you count flasking time, seeding potting and then flowering it may be, but I flower Phals in 7-16 months from a 3 inch seedling.

You Keikis falls into this time frame. If it is still attached to the mother even less time is necessary.

[prisana]

After a Keiki flowered on mother plant and you cut it down , does it have the same time frame as before ?, or does it resume the normal Keiki time frame now that it's not attached to the mother ,and won't flower again for a couple years ?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

It depends strictly on the size and genetics of the plant, but mostly size. Your keiki was using the energy produced by the mother plant to be able to bloom. So, if your keiki grows fast, it may bloom soon, if it grows slowly, it may take a long time to bloom.

[prisana]

Thank you Cynthia..my keiki has a very healthy root system and the leaves are now about 5 1/2" long I was just wondering if I'll have to wait until it really matures for the next blooming cycle which maybe a couple of years away. Now I think it will bloom the next time others bloom.

[jerrymeola]

I would say your plant has a great chance of blooming again next winter-spring. It is a full year away and plenty of time for the plant to store up energy

[prisana]

Jerry, thank you..that's good news..I am glad I won't have to wait too long.---Prisana

[Lilytilly]

I really am not an avid orchid person; however, I was given an orchid as a gift. After asking several people about strange growths on the stalks, I was informed that they were kikis. They do not have roots as yet as I was told to wait until they get roots and then plant them. Is this information correct and how long from leafing until rooting should be expected. I need to know what to do from here. Thank you for any information.

[gerneveyn]

The keiki on my phal took about two months to develop roots from the time it began producing leaves. I understand that you can wrap damp sphagnum moss around the base of the keiki and treat it with a rooting hormone to expedite root formation.

[mayres]

Here is a great site/link that discusses phal kiki's - http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/site/content/view/30/71/