Help! Cut a dried stem 1/2way down & got new leaves on the 1st node! Is it new plant?

[Kimberly Ann]

I have 4 orchids but my question is about only 1 of them. After the flowers had their run & fell off, and once the stems dried out, I cut the stems down to the very bottom on all except 1. On this one, I cut the stem about 1/2 way down right over the 2nd node, and now off to the side of the 1st node it has started growing what looks like new little leaves, and the small portion of the remaining stem from node 1 to node 2 has dried up. My question is what is happening with the new leaves, am I going to have another plant? Will I cut that off once it matures and be able to plant it? Or will the plant just have new leaves halfway up the stem and then more flowers? I am wondering what I should do and anyone that knows anything regarding this should share your knowledge with me, I'd really appreciate it! Should I cut the small dried up stem between node 1 (where the new leaves started growing) and node 2 (where I had originally cut the stem down to)? Or just leave it alone? Basically I just need to know if I have to do anything to it, and if its going to be a new separate plant or its just a new part on the plant. And should I be fertilizing orchids in their rest phase when there are no flowers? If so, how much how often? Any info is appreciated! Thanks!

[jay]

First of, I am going to guess that you are talking about a Phalaenopsis. If that is the case then it sounds like you have a keiki, which means baby. If you do a search for keiki you will find several posts about them.

You should post a picture of it for someone to be sure. Good luck with it.

Jay

[patlee]

Hi Kimberly Ann, Go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get the book All About Orchids by Ortho. Under the section on "Propagation" it has pictures of a keiki. If, like Jay points out, you are talking about a phal, then congratuations are in order. Your plant is expecting, but you probably won't have to think about repotting until it develops a good root system of its own...
Way to go, Mom

[pikevi]

Welcome to the forum Kimberly Ann.

I concur with jay. It looks like a keiki from your description. Leave it alone for now (don't cut the node above).

When you get roots developing you could think of removing the keiki and potting it elsewhere.

You also could try to add some potting mix to the base of the keiki if you can anchor it properly. I have done that to two keikis and they seem to be growing well. That way it gets the 'assistance' from the mother while it develops on its own.

Patlee's suggestion to get a book is a good one. But it is not necessary just to look at the keiki. But it may be a good idea to buy a book for future reference. I still don't have any book on orchids

I attach a photo for you look at.

Good luck

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

You can leave it on the plant until the roots get 3 or 4" long, but take it off the mother plant before the roots get so long they will not fit in a modest sized pot. Most Phals are over potted (pot too big), and a small roots system should really have a small pot so that it can dry out in a reasonable length of time, with the help of the roots sucking up the water.

[mayres]

Check out this EXCELLENT link to a tutorial on phalaenopsis keiki propogation. http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/site/content/view/30/71/

[pikevi]

Thanks for the link,mayres.

I needed that too!

I may have to try the method for at least two of mine soon.

[11Orchid126]

Don't worry about the dried portion of the spike. It isn't necessary to cut it off. Just watch the baby grow, and when it has roots as Cynthia suggests, you can pot it up on it's own.

[Kimberly Ann]

Thanks everyone for your help! I am so excited that I have a new plant growing! There are no roots yet, but I'm sure there will be in the future...I can't wait to see what becomes of it! Take care