Subject: Culture question phalaenopsis spike From: claudia, .stanford.edu Date sent: Fri, 26 Oct 2001 Hi Phil, I'm a very inexperienced orchid grower, and I have a couple of healthy Phalaenopsises - that bloomed - and I cut them back. My question is that they have both grown, what looks to me like a brand new plant - leaves, roots, the whole thing. They're growing out of where I would have expected another limb to come out with more flowers! Do I cut this off and plant it? If so, where should I cut, and will it harm the parent plant? Thank you! Claudia

Hi Claudia You are lucky, you have new plants. Leave the new plants until they develop roots some 25 mm (1 inch) long, and then carefully remove and pot up into new mix. In 2-3 years you will have new flowering plants. This new plant is called a keikei. You cut the small plant just where it joins the original stem - either carefully cut or you may be able to pull it off. This is a natural process, and will not harm the parent plant With kind regards Phil

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