My orchid has had a baby.what do i do?

[FAKEYE]

I found this site after looking on the internet. I was given an orchid a year ago & cut down the 2 stems (2 notches up the stem) as advised when the flowers died. One of the stems has got a new orchid growing from the top of the bare stem. It now has leaves,roots growing and flowers are about to emerge. My question is how do I remove it from the Mother plant? Can I just cut it off? Also how do I plant it? I have some orchid compost, but can I just put the new plant in it or do I need root powder or should it go in water first until the roots have developed more?
Many thanks for any advice..It would be much appreciated

Mark (fakeye)

[amersault]

hi, Mark -

welcome to the forum. sounds like you have a keiki. usually, you can repot this as soon as the roots are a couple of inches long. have at least 3 good roots on the plant to ensure a better chance at survival.

if the stem will allow this, you could try potting up the keiki while still attached to the mother plant and have the roots grow into the medium. that way, you lessen the shock once you take it off the spike.

i've had luck w/ regular bark media kept moist. i'm sure other members have had luck via Sphag moss, etc.

[FAKEYE]

That was a very quick reply Amersault and I thank you very much for the advice, which I will follow. I have several orchids, which all do fantastically well. even in the UK!! I have 10 Orchids and don't seem to have any problems with them, unlike my friends.
Would you mind if I asked your advice on a couple of other issues?

1) I water the orchids with a small amount of "HORTI" Orchid hormone. All my friends Orchids seem to die, but mine are all fabulous and keep getting more stems and flowers. Do you think that it is because of the Orchid hormone that I bought in Singapore that is responsible?
2) What is a Keiki? Is it the baby?
3) How long do Orchids live? I have had 2 for about 5 years and they still keep producing new stems and flowers.
4) What more could I do? I am just amased that I am out of the country a lot, yet the Orchids do so well? What am I doing right?

I am sorry for all these questions. I love my Orchids, but seem to have arrived with healthy plants by accident. I do not have the time to spoil them with care, but they survive and thrive. I am new to this site, so please forgive me if you have heard all this before.
Many thanks..Mark x

[amersault]

Originally Posted by FAKEYE

1) I water the orchids with a small amount of "HORTI" Orchid hormone. All my friends Orchids seem to die, but mine are all fabulous and keep getting more stems and flowers. Do you think that it is because of the Orchid hormone that I bought in Singapore that is responsible?
2) What is a Keiki? Is it the baby?
3) How long do Orchids live? I have had 2 for about 5 years and they still keep producing new stems and flowers.
4) What more could I do? I am just amased that I am out of the country a lot, yet the Orchids do so well? What am I doing right?

you're welcome, looks like we're logged in at the same time, despite the time diff

regarding your queries above -

01 unfortunately, other members will have to vouch for this as i've never used this on any of my plants.

02 a Keiki is a baby plant, a perfect clone of the mother. diff. species put out keikis differently (basal, from flower spikes, along canes, etc). once the roots are more than a few inches long, you can generally pot these up w/ no problem, just mind that they don't dry out too much after the transfer.

03 i've heard of orchids being decades old and still going strong. i've had specimens that are nearing 5 yrs with no indication of quitting either. i think it all comes down to how well you can replicate its natural environment and in your quality of care.

04 could be a whole host of things from watering, humidity and feeding correctly - bottom line: obviously you've taken very good care of them! orchids are quite hardy and, when given the right conditions, will reward you continuously with blooms/new growth.

post pics of what you have so other members can enjoy ~

[kmarch]

amersault seems to have given you some good advice and information so i'll only add a response to your first question:

Originally Posted by FAKEYE

1) I water the orchids with a small amount of "HORTI" Orchid hormone. All my friends Orchids seem to die, but mine are all fabulous and keep getting more stems and flowers. Do you think that it is because of the Orchid hormone that I bought in Singapore that is responsible?

Your orchids are growing and blooming because you're giving them the culture/environment they want. The hormone may be helping but I can pretty much guarentee that if you were giving your orchids the wrong temperatures, light, and were not watering them like they wanted, the hormone treatement alone would not be enough to keep them going. I'd credit your and your growing space with the success more than the hormone.

Although it hasn't yet been stated outright, it sounds like you probably have Phalaenopsis. They're just one of many, many different kinds of orchids there are that grow fairly well in the home.

It sounds like you have happily stumbled into something that I often tell new orchid growers, that is to buy orchids that will do well in the conditions (temperatures, light, watering, etc) you already have or can maintain.

If you want to know more about orchid culture, and perhaps why your orchids are doing well, take a look at the culture sheets in the Orchid Care section of this website, from the culture sheets available form the American Orchid Society at AOS | Home, or from any excellent orchid culture book (there's a thread here on what books people like). You'll see that different kinds of orchids like different growing conditions and I suspect you'll also see that you have the conditions that your orchids like.

If you are able, please post some pictures of your orchids and growing spaces. We learn a lot from eachother that way and our members love, love, LOVE to see pictures of eachothers' orchids.

cheers!

[articuno75]

You have been great advice Fakeye, so with that I'll just say to the forum!!!