Keiki on Phal Spike

[whalloper]

So I did my little pull off node cover to get a branch trick, but this time, I got a keiki I know this cannot be answered exactly, but roughly how long does it take for a keiki forming on a spike to get to the point of potting? Right now, it just has 2 tiny leaves forming and no signs of roots. Are we talking months, years? Just want some idea. Thanks!!

[mehitabel]

I've only had one spike keiki, but it didn't take long (late summer). Might take longer in winter. I sprayed the keiki with a dilute fert solution every few days til it was fairly big-- two leaves about 1" each. That took about a month. Then I started spraying it with the root hormone solution. Took about another month to get two 2" long roots on it, and I then cut it off and potted it up into a tiny 3" pot.

It would have taken longer if I had just left it alone and not sprayed it, but I wanted to see what would happen with the sprays. Took app 2 months toto. I don't have patience for "years" when I can speed things up

I have a couple of basal keikis that have gotten big very fast, span over 4" in not more than 2 months. But again, I use foliar feeding.

I'll be interested to hear what others' experience has been.

[Züleyha]

Originally Posted by whalloper

So I did my little pull off node cover to get a branch trick, but this time, I got a keiki I know this cannot be answered exactly, but roughly how long does it take for a keiki forming on a spike to get to the point of potting? Right now, it just has 2 tiny leaves forming and no signs of roots. Are we talking months, years? Just want some idea. Thanks!!

It depend`s from case to case. I have some plants, they need about almost a year to finish their keiki - including roots. Then i have a lueddemanniana, which is really fast ( 6-9month - without any special handling ). Then it depent´s on the time, of the year ( temperature, light...). And some plants tend to form the Keikileafs quickly, but they don`t form roots .

Originally Posted by mehitabel

It would have taken longer if I had just left it alone and not sprayed it, but I wanted to see what would happen with the sprays. Took app 2 months toto. I don't have patience for "years" when I can speed things up

Didn`t your Orchids teach you patience ?
It`s a cool experiment i´ll try that too ( but i don`t have *rootinghormonespray* ).

[mehitabel]

Originally Posted by Züleyha

Didn`t your Orchids teach you patience ? It`s a cool experiment i´ll try that too ( but i don`t have *rootinghormonespray* ).

LOL, Zuleyha. I don't think anything could teach me patience. I do have some patience, but it's limited, so I have to conserve it

Since you grow outside, you don't really need something like the root hormone spray, but if you're interested

Root hormone spray

[Züleyha]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

LOL, Zuleyha. I don't think anything could teach me patience. I do have some patience, but it's limited, so I have to conserve it

Since you grow outside, you don't really need something like the root hormone spray, but if you're interested

Root hormone spray

Yes, it`s the same with me.

I grow outside?
Do you mean outside of US?

Thank you for the link - sounds all great!

[E-Jag]

Whalloper, could you perhaps expand a little on the "...pull off a node cover to get a branch" trick? I thought branching was largely a function of genetics. Have you successfully initiated branching in the past by peeling off node covers?

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by E-Jag

Whalloper, could you perhaps expand a little on the "...pull off a node cover to get a branch" trick? I thought branching was largely a function of genetics. Have you successfully initiated branching in the past by peeling off node covers?

Yes, with several plants. Its a little trick someone taught me...they said pulling off the cover releases a hormone that can trigger a branch. Be very careful, although harder, I recommend pulling it off starting at the side, not the point. If you pull off from the point, you can also rip off the nub underneath and then, better luck next year. It hasnt worked in all cases, maybe 40%. Most recently, I got 5 nice big "bonus" blooms on a Phal. On the one in the thread with the keiki, it was a double spike, one formed the keiki, and the other is forming a branch. It can take a while for you to notice a change in the little nub...maybe a month or so.

[mehitabel]

Originally Posted by Züleyha

:I grow outside? Do you mean outside of US?

Sorry, Zuleyha, a mindless response. Don't know why I thought "Florida" and neglected to look. Wasn't thinking at all, most likely

Yes, the root hormone spray really does work.

[lmartiny]

I have a Keiki on a mini Phal. It has some roots now. It has been a few months. I'll have to look back at pictures to seel how long it has been. I've left it on the spike for now and it has another tiny one that really has not done much.

[lmartiny]

I checked on my Phal keiki. (needs water )
The first photos were late June 09. So it has been at least 6 months in the making. I took some update photos tonight. Here are several showing it's progress. The second little keiki has been slow/dormant. The leaf damage you see is thanks to Bobo the cat.
6-30-09
blooms cover keiki
Oct 09

Now

[Züleyha]

Originally Posted by mehitabel

Sorry, Zuleyha, a mindless response. Don't know why I thought "Florida" and neglected to look. Wasn't thinking at all, most likely

Oh, i would love to live in Florida - i`ve been there several times & each time, didn`t want to leave.

Originally Posted by lmartiny

I checked on my Phal keiki.

This is sooo cute ( specially the first pic ), thank you for showing!

[mehitabel]

Marvelous photos, lmartin. Clear as a bell. And nice big keiki, too. Seems to have a bit of an attitude

Thanks for sharing.

[whalloper]

Thanks for the great pictures, Imartiny! Thats pretty cool in just 6 months! Do you mist the roots/leaves? What kind of special attention did you give to the keiki if at all? Would that be ready to pot at this point?

[lmartiny]

It probably could be potted up now but I'm going to leave it. I just run water over the roots then run water in the pot.

[-k-]

That is great.. very thank you for sharing that, truely an amazing sight!

[Olive Cook]

is that another keiki below it?

[lmartiny]

Yes it is another keiki. But it has not done much. As long as the spke remains viable I'll leave them to grow.

[Mmy]

Hmmm.I never got a keiki before.If I want some keiki, what should I do??????