Keiki care

[Sharyn]

I just removed a large keiki from a nobile den. I planted it in a small 2 1/2 inch pot with small bark. I've placed in my filtered West window. Now, how do I care for it? How much water? I've stopped fertilizing the mother plant with worm tea several weeks ago. Do I do the same with the keiki or can I continue to use the worm tea periodically? I presume it needs no cooling period like the mother plant, however, if I'm wrong, someone correct me.

This is the first nobile keiki I've potted so any suggestions will be appreciated.

[tom499]

Treat it like the mother plant

It may want a resting period if the mother does, It depends on how it grows.

I have some den. kingy keikeis. They put on a spurt in the summer, but now its autumn they are slowing down, so I'm watering less.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sharyn

Now, how do I care for it?

From your description it sounds like a good size keiki (with good roots too?) so I would recommend giving it the same care you give the mother plant.

Originally Posted by Sharyn

How much water?

Is it in the same mix as your mother plant? As it is probbly in a smaller pot you might have to watch it to adjust watering frequency but otherwise the same care as the mother plant is a good place to start.

Originally Posted by Sharyn

I've stopped fertilizing the mother plant with worm tea several weeks ago. Do I do the same with the keiki or can I continue to use the worm tea periodically?

Again, I'd treat it the same as the mother plant.

Originally Posted by Sharyn

I presume it needs no cooling period like the mother plant, however, if I'm wrong, someone correct me.

I'm not entirely sure i understand this question. Are you presuming that the keiki, like the mother plant, does not need to be cooled off or are you thinking the keiki does not need a cooling off period like the mother plant needs a cooling off?

Either way, the keiki is still a nobile-type Den and as such, needs nobile-type Den care. Nobile-types need to be cooled off, so I'd treat both plants the same and cool them off and reduce their watering. It's what they're expecting.

Maybe I missed an earlier post but i think i might have waited until spring to remove the keiki. I have a Den. fimbriatum var occulatum wiht keikis and I was waiting until their growth season began to remove them. Others may have other opinions on when it is best to "harvest" keikis. Either way i doubt you have any worries.

Cheers

[Sharyn]

Ok, I think I got it now. The keiki is planted in the same media as the mother plant. I will treat it the same. The reason I asked about the cooling period: wasn't quite sure if a small keiki needed the same care, merely because of its small size compared to the mother. As far as I can tell from your reponse, I'm to treat it the same.

Yes, I did have an earlier post, but think it was lost at the time of the server change-over. I didn't want the keiki to drain energy from the mother as I'm trying to get this one to bloom this winter. So I removed the keiki and now I've learned that I should have waited. Will put these notes in my file. Thanks for your input. I'm sure everything will be fine.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Sharyn

So I removed the keiki and now I've learned that I should have waited.

Well maybe...Others may have a different opinion. I don't think there's an absolute. It's my "default setting" to do things like potting before a plant starts its growth cycle so... Either way I think you're probably ok with it.

[butt0n]

I just removed a mature keiki from one of my nobiles and its doing great so far. It had 3 2" roots and a ton of leaves. I potted it in a 2.5" pot w/ fine fir bark and some sphag since there were so few roots. Its been a week or so and its already growing new roots. I'm only watering it w/ worm tea. Hope that helps!

[Sharyn]

button: Thanks for your input. I've done just about the same procedure, except for the sphag - it doesn't like me. Anyway, I'm following Kevin's suggestions and treating it the same as the mother plant. So far, so good.