Keiki

[Townsville]

I have a number of plants with keikis. One is D Nobile, but I also have them on some of my epidendrums. I don't really want more of these plants. What will happen if I simply leave them on the parent plant?

Townsville

Nothing. You will have a fuller plant that may or may not ever bloom for you. You must correct your cultural treatment of the nobile otherwise it will continue to send out keikis and not new canes. If it were my plant I'd remove all the keikis except those coming from the base of the canes and tailor my cultural practices to what the plant needs: sunny, hot, wet and fertile spring and summers and cold, dry, fertilizer-free fall and winters, and back off high nitrogen.

[Townsville]

All four keikis are high - two on each of two canes. I will consider pinching them off - though the canes are pretty weedy. Hot and wet is easy - cold might be a problem - though dry certainly won't be! Thanks for the advice.
Townsville

[junieg2]

How about potting the keikis and giving them away as gifts??? jcg

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The Epi will get very top heavy and become awkward. In nature this is how they spread, like a blackberry bramble. I always remove the keikis on Epis, as soon as I am sure they are not more flowers, to keep the plant looking compact. High light also makes them bloom shorter and makes for more compact plants.

[eSRods]

I am not an experienced orchid grower but what I read from books that keikis will grow if you feed orchids during summer months. In Aust, months of Nov to Jan, are months of Ramadan.
Cheers

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

This may be true for Den keikis, but Epidendrums just like to keiki, period. Its their nature.

[Townsville]

Thanks everyone. Have taken all advice - abhorted the epis, put two den keiki's on a broken branch and two in propagating sand. Parents are on a diet.

Townsville

[Anton]

Here's an example of an Epi "Kieking" all over the place, check the base.

Check the base of the plant to the left.

I have one of those keikis at home.

Townsville, not all nobiles need the severe cold drying out. What is the name of your den?

[Townsville]

Orchid126 - I'm afraid the only ID I have is Den Nobile. I bought it near the end of its flowering - and did not identify it then - so will have to wait for more flowers (I hope).

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Is the nobile with a small 'n'? This may the the species nobile.

[Townsville]

Can't even answer that Cynthia. The label says DEN NOBILE. The fowers, as I recall, were white and purple. I don't think I can dry it out too much - it starts to suffer rather quickly. And, as I said before, it came from a local grower, so it can't need much cold!
Tsvlle

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Was it hand written or machine printed? Hand written, I would assume it possible to be a hybrid unless you know the person you got it from was very exact with labeling. Good chance it is the species. I think most of the nobile species I've seen have had a dark, almost black, center to the flowers. But my experience is pretty limitted.

[Townsville]

Hand written Cynthia. I got it from an orchid show. These are very small affairs here, but about as authoritative as it gets. The last show held in Townsville had only half a dozen plants in bloom - though it was mid-summer and very wet. I have seen some excellent (though still very small) shows around September/October. I occasionally buy at these shows (sometimes held in the forecourt of a supermarket). Otherwise, the local hardware store sometimes imports from nurseries (often seedlings). Most of my young plants come from other people's back yards. Keep meaning to join the orchid society - but it is a bit hard to get out at night. Tsvlle

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I think I would assume for the present that it is the species until you find something suggesting the contrary. Dryish winter, maybe water once a month, and as cool as possible. Outdoors under a protection from rain would probably do. I assume it does not freeze in Townsville.

[Townsville]

Thanks Cynthia (again!) All my orchids live outdoors - the verandah is open except for the roof. I shall take the shade cloth off the top of them when it gets cooler. I'll also stop watering when winter comes. No, I can guarantee it won't freeze here.

[Woods]

Hi Townsville,

My sister lives in Townsville now (she's originallly from Glasgow). I would love to have an orchid delivered to her new home. Can you recommend someone I could order through?

[Townsville]

Not that easy Woods. There is one commercial grower - I believe she lives somewhere in the outer western suburbs - but she never answers her 'phone or responds to left messages. I have been told that she sells her orchids at a market held in town each Sunday morning!

The florists will, of course deliver - I have only seen "Singapore Orchids" in the flower shops, but they must be available to them. If you would like to let me know which suburb she lives in I can contact the local florist to make enquiries. They all take credit cards by 'phone or email.

Townsville

[Woods]

Thanks for responding Townsville. I'll find out what suburb she is in and have a look for some local florists on the internet. If it's OK I might run them past you before I order... are there any chain of florists that I should avoid? Thanks for offering to help - really appreciate it.

[Townsville]

Don't think there are any odd ones - but if you let me know the suburb, I can advise.

[Woods]

Hi Townsville. My sister lives in an area called Castle Hill. Do you know it?
I have been in contact with a florist named Peg Hoborn - her shop in Townsville is called SilverWattle. She emailed me the following information. I'm not keen on lilies and haven't heard of the other plants. I would still really like to get her an orchid. Where did you get your orchid?

Silverwattle: We sell plants, although because of the airconditioning and the heat we draw our supplies as needed from a good quality local nursery.
We find by far the very plant for Townsville is the Madonna Lily - grows
beautifully either in the ground or a pot with creamy white flowers. We can
offer azaleas minature umbrella plants and many others. Cordylines grow well
here also.

[Townsville]

Have rung a couple of shops - they will get back to me soon. In my opinion azeleas are risky here. Umbrella plants are just greenery and cordylines - an interesting group but a bit specialised. While I was typing this a flower shop 'phoned to say they can source orchids. I told them you weren't interested in "Singapore Orchids" - they said it would not be a Singapore, but would have to be something available and could not specify.

The bad bit - it will cost about $AU70 - the plant $60 plus delivery of $9.50. If you are still interested they are Malpara Florist at www.malpara.com.au. I am pretty confident about them - my daughter, who lives in USA, sends me flowers through them by email and credit card.

If this does not suit I could try the Orchid Society. They charge less - but don't know how delivery could be managed. They also don't sell their best plants!

Townsville