Question for the Phal experts...

[JC_PTY]

Hello, I have a phal witch is in full bloom right now. It has a keiki growing by it's side. I am not sure if I should re-pot it in order to separate the keiki, or if I should let the keiki grow by its side, which I am not sure will have enough space.
If re-potting is the option I will wait until the bloom is over to proceed anyway.

I am a total rookie with orchids, and I am not sure if I try to take the keiki away, what I am going to find.
Will the keiki be attached to the main phal? Will I have to cut?
or will the keiki have its own roots and no cutting will be necessary.

If cutting is necessary, how should I proceed? Is there a special technique?

I am attaching a picture so you could have a better idea. Thanks in advance!


JC

[-k-]

Personally I would not remove and allow it grow along side the mother plant; it will eventually put off it's own root system provided it's given proper culture. You will have twice as many blooms in the future! If your meidum is still good no need to repot until neccessary.

[kmarch]

Don't remove it. It probably does not yet have a root system anyway. This is not really a keiki. It is another growth coming from the base of the plant. Some folks call these "basal keikis" to indicate they're coming from the base of the plant rather than a spike which is where a keiki comes from. You don't' treat "basal keikis" or normal growths coming from the base of the plant the same way as you do regular keikis. ust let it grow on. It has enough room to grow as it is.

[mayres]

I have found that sometimes a "growth" like this is not really a "keiki" at all. The only way to know for certain is to pull the plant(s) out of the pot and check. Sometimes when the plants are removed from the flasks there may be one or more "tangled" together and they just leave them - hence it may be actually another less vigorous plant growing side by side the other. I've actually purchased a plant that had two additional plants like this! Another option is that it is indeed a basal keiki that has zero roots of its own at this point - so you will need to let both plants grow together for quite sometime - until the smaller section gets enough roots to be separated (which is not necessary, but most growers would probably separate - makes for a nice "free" gift plant for a friend! ).

[JC_PTY]

Thanks for all the advices!

I will let it as it is, until the medium asks for a change. Then I will check if it has roots or not. Since I bought it already potted, I really don't know if it is a different plant or a "basal keiki".

Regards,

JC