Another Keiki question

[Stargazer997]

Hi...Not sure if I should be adding this post to the existing keiki phal question posted by Townsville, sorry if my bad.
Are these keikis on my Angraecum magdalenae, and if so, should I be removing them in order to devote the growth to new canes/flowers? Hopefully the pictures indicate that they are growing at the base of the existing plant and there are actually 4 growing.
Thanks!
Martha

[varjak]

IF THEY ARE keikis I found this. Does it help ?

Removing Keikis
Keikis should be left on the mother plant until they develop a healthy root system and have two or three leaves. At this point, they can be carefully removed with a sharp knife and planted in their own pot.

Regular Keikis are cut below and above the stem, leaving a small piece of stem on the baby plant.
Basal Keikis may be left on the mother plan until they drop off on their own, or they can be cut off when their roots are at least a few centimetres long.
A separated keiki can be expected to flower after 18-24 months.

[Stargazer997]

Hi Varjak,
So, do you think they are keiki's? I don't see any roots. Should this type of an orchid NOT "branch out" as it appears to be doing? As mentioned, there are 4 of these "keiki's" growing from the base, I'd say most if not all have at least 3 leaves. One is about 4/5 inches high. Worries me to cut!! I purchased this plant last fall and have not seen any indication of flowering or canes. I let it go somewhat dry this winter but did not neglect the watering when dry. Thanks for your reply and any further thoughts you can share. I am such a newbie! And appreciate your advise so much.
Stargazer997

[Stargazer997]

PS Looking at the photos and the roots exposed, should this be repotted????

[eSRods]

To me they look like new shoots.
But, of course, people may prove me wrong, as has happened before.

[Stargazer997]

Hi, Not to be totally ignorant, but if they are new shoots (and what's the diff between new shoots and keiki?), should I leave them well enough alone?
Thanks eSRods for your feedback!

[jerrymeola]

Stargazer

There are no ignorant questions on this forum.

The different between call yours keiki or new shoots is whether you remove the Keiki or divide the bulbs.

Just words the plants are still the same.

Normally shoots are in the medium and need to be removed from the pot to be divided. But many plants grow up and can be divided in the same way you remove a keiki.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

In a plant like this, the definition of keiki gets a little awkward. In nature, plants like this tend to get a little bushy. This habit led one knowledgeble orchid grower who should have known better to conclude that a Vandopsis was a sympodial, when it was not. I would leave these until they get much larger, and as Jerry says, consider their removal next time you repot, if you see that they have good root systems and are going to come apart easily. I generally do not like using a cutting tool for the removal of keikis when a little manipulation will separate this at the most advantagous place, and also avoids the worry of spreading virus. In the case of plants like you have here, a sterilized tool may be necessary.

[Stargazer997]

Thanks, All! I'll leave them alone for the time being. One of my concerns is that the new "shoots" will take energy away from producing a cane/flower but I'll see what develops and keep my fingers crossed.
Stargazer

[Stargazer997]

Oh Oh! So, I was examining these new "shoots", "keikis" what have you, this morning and found to my horror scales on 2 of the new growth areas. Not an infestation, but several. I have read up this morning on the treatment and would appreciate your advise -

1) As I only found a few, and none on the "mother" plant, should I go for the
h20/rubbing alchohol/soap/oil spray treatment and forgo the systemic?
2) If I do the systemic, Bayer Advanced Rose and Flower spray, do I apply that with a sprayer and garden hose? If that's the case, being in sub zero Minnesota, a garden hose is not an option for the next several months. Is there a plan b systemic to use?
3) Should I remove what appears to be a fairly sickly (see pic) new growth, being the worst of the 4 new growths? And if so, HOW? Sterilized knife as close to the base as I can get? There aren't any roots exposed on these new "shoots".
Dang, always something.

Thanks very much in advance!
Stargazer aka Martha

The rubbing alcohol/oil mixture will work. You can drench the soil with it to kill any eggs in the soil and put it in a spray bottle for the leaves. You must be diligent if you use this method as it works on contact by smothering the eggs and adults. The Bayer Advanced Garden Rose and Flower spray comes in a 24 oz spray bottle that can be easily used indoors. In fact, I just used it this morning on a couple of my plants. Being a systemic, the Bayer product does not have to be used quite as often, perhaps once every seven days for two or three weeks.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

I would go with the Bayer Rose stuff. You will get rid of the problem completely and not have recurrent problems. Removing that keiki is some thing I might do if it is in an awkward position or already pretty much lose, but other wise I would wait and see if it progresses or languishes.