On 2013-09-17 13:46:56 +0100, Spider said:
On 17/09/2013 10:59, Sacha wrote:
On 2013-09-16 17:29:45 +0100, Sacha said:
On 2013-09-16 16:13:03 +0100, Spider said:
On 16/09/2013 14:41, Sacha wrote:
I have a two stem orchid, a phalaenopsis and one stem appears to be
producing a budding shoot from a leaf node a third of the way up one 2'
stem and it looks as if there might be a bud forming on the very tip of
that original stem. The other seemed to be doing the same at the tip
but
it was knocked off. ;-( I'm just letting it get on with it but
wondered if this is normal behaviour for these orchids. All the other
leaf nodes are blank and it's going to look a bit strange when/if it
flowers! The original stems aren't dying back at all, so I've left
well
alone.
It sounds as if you may have the beginnings of a keiki or baby
orchid. Wait until it has put on a few aerial roots, then snip it
free of the parent plant and pot it up. You can then cut back the
remainder of the stem on the parent orchid to the base.
http://www.repotme.com/orchid-care/Orchid-Keikis.html
The keiki will be identical to the parent. I have one several years
old now and it flowers well.
Thanks to you and to Bob. I think I'll take a photo of it and see what
you think.
Here it is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783249091/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93694401@N03/9783450406/
Ah! Just as well you posted a pic, Sacha. That's not a keiki, but
another small flowering stem.
I don't think you'll see any activity on the upper part of that stem
now. It will probably just die back, so you can cut it away. You may
wish to leave one node above the flowering stem before you cut, just in
case of die back. That's what I do anyway. The other horticultural
technique is to cross your fingers when you cut it back;).
Ah yes, I've mastered that technique all too well! I haven't cut the
stems yet, only because they're so green, healthy and firm. And another
slight swelling seems to be appearing at the tip of the stem in the
photo. In the past, I've found that the stems start to die back
naturally but so far, that hasn't happened with this one.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk