Growth and Keikis?

[missmegan]

How do you know if your orchid is growing? That may sound dumb but I'm really new to taking care of orchids. Also, what is a keiki?

[WIB]

There are several ways, depending on the type. If the newest leaves look smooth and green, for most types, that's a good sign. If you see aerial roots coming across the surface of the medium or poking up, that's good. If you see healthy roots entering the medium, or poking out the other end, that's good. With the most common type, the moth orchid or Phalaenopsis, noticing a little green or purple tip on the roots suggests that new root growth is taking place. And, of course, new leaves are proof positive that it's growing. Most orchids have cycles of growth, and many of them will go for months more or less just sitting there. -- Bill

[Tobi]

Keiki is the Hawaiian word for "baby". When an orchid plant produces another baby plant asexually, the baby plant is an exact clone of the mother
plant. A keiki which grows from one node along the
flower stem. Dendrobiums, Phalaenopsis and Vandaceous orchids are
the most common plants to produce keikis.

[missmegan]

What does a keiki look like?

[kmarch]

A keiki looks like a small baby plant. What kind of orchid do you have?

[digitalgate]

If you just got your orchids. Chances are, they will be under stress when you
got them home. Expect to see some leave drop, flower bud blast and so on
Dont water the plant too often.
IF you wonder if your plant is alive , look at the roots when you watered them.
Did the roots turn green when you water them.If it is green then let them
regrow new roots or leave. Dont stress them with too much water and
fertilizer in the beginning.

[missmegan]

Is this a keiki on my dend.?

[WIB]

Bingo. It sure looks like one. -- Bill

[fred]

yep that sure is a keiki

[pikevi]

It is a keiki for sure! Congratulations.

Attaching a photo of a keiki on Epi. imatophyllum

[missmegan]

What do I do with it now? Also I am attaching more pictures of the same orchid, do I need to repot? I have had it for a little over a year, but it looks really full. If I need to repot, how do I do it? It is growing in what looks like part of a tree??

[missmegan]

This is what it is potted in.

[kmarch]

messmegan, in case no one else has identified your orchid, it looks to be a Dendrobium of some type, probably a hybrid.

Originally Posted by missmegan

What do I do with it now?

You don't have to do anything, just let it grow. If you have not downloaded a culturesheet from the AOS (American Orchid Society) or read it from this forum. Just give it the water and light it needs and let it go.

Originally Posted by missmegan

Also I am attaching more pictures of the same orchid, do I need to repot?

It looks like it is potted in a coir plug which is common for imported plants. Dendrobiums typically like to be pot bound so I would not think it needs to be repotted. To use your terms, Dendrobiums like to be "full" in their pot.

Originally Posted by missmegan

If I need to repot, how do I do it? It is growing in what looks like part of a tree??

Like I said above, it looks like it is planted in a coir plug. A coir plug is a piece of coconut husk which is becoming more and more popular these days. It will not break down like other mixes so you will probably never need to remove the plant from the plug. Doing so would probably damage roots anyway. When the time comes to repot, when the plant is startign to overflow the pot, literally growing over the edge of the pot, you'll probably just ull it out of this pot and put it in a larger one and put your mix of choice to fill in the gaps.

[digitalgate]

Guys this lead me to another question. Is it possible that when you let the Dendrobrum overrun your pot. They could develop the symptom above? If that
is the case may be it could be better off repotting it? Someone gave me a
mini that need to re potted just like the above.

[missmegan]

Thanks for the info kmarch.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by digitalgate

Guys this lead me to another question. Is it possible that when you let the Dendrobrum overrun your pot. They could develop the symptom above?

What symptom? From the looks of the pic, the plant is a normal Dendrobium growing normally.