What to do about Phal keiki?

[mam]

Hi, everyone! I'm looking for some advice...as usual. I had given a phal to my aunt as a present a couple of years ago. Well, I asked her about a month ago if it had rebloomed this year. It hadn't. Well, I was at her home the other day, and I went to look at it... THERE IS NOTHING LEFT BUT A DEAD SPIKE WITH A KEIKI ON IT!

Well, now I'm wondering what to do with it. It has two small leaves...maybe 1.5 inches each...and one root, maybe an inch long. Should I pot it...or do you think iit is too small to try potting it with only one small root. At this point, I need to find SOME way to get it some nutrients. There is simply NO MOTHER plant anymore. We're heading into summer here in New England, so the weather will get humid. I wondering if I'd be better off leaving it without media and spraying it with fertilized water daily? Any thoughts?

[kmarch]

I dont' see that you have much of a choice. If the mother plant is completely dead and gone, your only option I think it to pot the keiki up, give it good culture and hope for the best. No wait you have another option. Some forum members have mounted small phals. Mounting might be a better option than potting especially if you will have good humidity. Let's see what the other members say.

[mayres]

If the spike is brown/dead it cannot be getting anything from the roots of the mother plant. I'd cut it off immediately and plant it into a small 1 3/4" pot with a media that retains moisture really well - like coir or sphag. I'd mist it a little around the base area each morning to keep a little moisture in the area to encourage some additional roots to sprout and start the waiting game. It is going to be a LONG process - but can be rewarding in the end. Post us a pic when you get it done so we can admire your efforts!

[mam]

That's an idea, thanks!

[mam]

Okay...now I have to actually make a decision! Seriously, though. Thanks to both of you for the advice.

[Hummer344]

You have another option. Can the whole plant and buy a new one. It will take a couple of years, or more, for the keike to grow to blossoming size if you are sucessfull in growing it. If the phal doesn't have a name, NOID,(no ID), and doesn't have any significance other wise, buy a new plant that is in bloom and enjoy it.

[janet_a]

do both; keep the keiki as an experiment/learning experience AND buy your aunt a new phal. and maybe get one for yourself too.

(what? enabling? me?)

[solay]

Hummer344, I have to disagree. Poor little thing. Give it a chance and it may bloom one day. I always save all the back bulbs from my Cyms. and stick them in a pot. If it doesn't make it, at least I tried. I know a lot of people just toss them out. I just can't do it.

I agree with Janet a. Buy one to enjoy now and grow the keiki for fun.

[berkeleysgr8]

As an official Orchid Geek, I concur with both Janet A and Solay... keep the keiki and the hopeful promise that it will bloom some day AND buy a new orchid that is in bloom for you to enjoy now!

[Orchidementia]

Originally Posted by berkeleysgr8

As an official Orchid Geek, I concur with both Janet A and Solay... keep the keiki and the hopeful promise that it will bloom some day AND buy a new orchid that is in bloom for you to enjoy now!

As a noob who doesn't know much, I agree with all three of you! The poor little plant is trying so hard to stay alive, why not pot up the keiki ... and get another orchid to keep it company until it's big enough to bloom?

[PhalPal]

Great minds think alike - I agree with all the girls above!

I can't throw out any plant with half a chance of making it.

[orchid_girl]

Ditto here!! Keep it and buy one for your aunt and one for you The only other thing other than potting it up you could try to mount it as Kmarch suggested. You would need to put some sphag around it though to keep the moisture. Whichever is more convienent for you.

[sestina]

I recently had a similar experience with a phal and keiki. The mother plant bloomed herself to death and the keiki was about the size you mentioned when the stem it was on turned brown and I had no choice but to remove the keiki and plant it. I am happy to say it is surviving and its roots have grown some. I cross my fingers, water the little pot twice a week, and spray the keiki each day. So far so good. I know it would have died if I had left it on the stalk.