Plant guide:ðļ Orchid
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Growth
Keiki (Baby Plantlet) Formation on Orchid Spikes
Commonly affects: Phalaenopsis spp. and other Orchidaceae (Orchid)
A small plantlet with tiny leaves and sometimes roots forms along the flower spike or at the base of the plant, rather than another flower.
Potential Causes
- 1A natural, harmless response some orchids use to propagate, often triggered by stress, high humidity, or a node left after flowering
- 2Some varieties being more prone to producing keikis than others
- 3Not typically a sign of a problem, but rather an opportunity to propagate
Solution Steps
- 1Leave the keiki attached until it develops several roots at least a few centimetres long
- 2Once well-rooted, carefully cut it away from the parent spike with a sterilised blade and pot it separately in orchid bark
- 3No treatment needed if you're not interested in propagating â it can simply be left or removed
Prevention Tip
A keiki isn't a problem to solve â it's a free new orchid. Let it develop good roots before separating it from the parent plant.
