Help separating keiki from mother?

[Olive]

My first orchid (Phal) grew a keiki on the flower spike and now I believe it is ready to cut (it has about 6 roots over 4'' long and at least 6 good sized leaves).

I'm seeking advice on how to separate them and repotting of both. They are both thriving right now so I'm afraid of harming either in the process. Not sure how far down to cut the stalk, process, etc.

I've not been able to find spaghnum moss (Toronto, Canada) so I've soaked a bucket of "Orchid Magic" bark mix in boiling water for several days -- will this be okay for the keiki? I have a small clear standard 4.5'' pot for the keiki but haven't been able to locate a larger clear pot for the mother plant which is quite large now (leaves over 12'' long). Is opaque plastic okay or is clay better?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[mayres]

Here is a great link on removing and potting up keiki's from phals - http://www.easyorchids.co.uk/site/content/view/30/71/. What you are ready to do will probably work fine. You will find that many types of pots are used and many types and mixes of media are used - your growing conditions and how you take care of them will dictate what is best for you personally. I would tend to plant the keiki in something that will stay a little moister than large bark - either smaller bark, my current favorite, coconut pith with a little perlite and charcoal, a combo of bark and sphag, or a host of other options. The clay pot will obviously dry out more frequently and require watering more often - both types will work. Some even like the semi-translucent white plastic pots because you can see the moisture inside and the conditions of the roots as the plant matures and grows. On phals it is better to underpot (size-wise) than to overpot. Good luck! mike

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Solid color plastic pots are better because you will not get algae growing on the inside of the pot. Those using clear pots so that the moisture can be seen may want to slip this pot into another that is dark colored to cut off the light that encourages algae. Sounds like your keiki is no longer keiki sized. Don't use odd ball moss. It could turn bad too soon, and rot the roots, unless you know someone that has experience with the moss and says it is OK. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[Olive]

Thank you so much for your advice and suggestions.

I've read that I should leave a few inches of the spike attached to the keiki, but how much of the flower spike do I leave attached to the mother plant? I had a second orchid that I cut back the flower spike when all the flowers had dropped and it died shortly thereafter so I'm afraid of killing this one!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The plant died? Cutting a flower spike should have no effect on the plant. Sterilize your tool and dust the cut with cinnamon or sulfur if you are concerned about rot. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[Tess]

Hi Olive,
I too had a kiki to plant in March. Mayres gave me the same link she posted for you. I followed the instructions, but forgot to soak the bark before potting the kiki...and I think the pot was too large, (I've since repotted in a smaller pot). I left the top of the stalk on the kiki and cut the lower stalk from the "mother" about 2or 3" long, just above a node.
The kiki has tried to bloom but the flower buds are not cooperating. The mother is blooming now.
Sorry, I haven't figured out how to post a picture in this message, but there is a picture in the gallery titled "kiki".
Good luck.
Tess

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

There are lots of things you will be told to do as a good set of instructions, but you must realize that some of the advice will be of very marginal value. Soaking the mix is nice, but on the other hand many people, including myself, never bother to soak the mix. One just needs to know that the mix was not soaked, so extra weting is done after the repot. Also, if a lot of damge is done to roots in the repotting process, as is usually the case for Cattleyas, having the mix a bit dryer for a while is good to prevent rot in the damaged roots. So, don't worry over the soaking of the mix. Now, over potting for an under waterer may not be so bad. But since most are over waterers, small pots are best. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ