What Is a Keiki?

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Posted by @beckygardener on
Keiki is a Hawaiian word for "child." In the plant world, it is actually a clone of the parent plant. This term is often used in orchid propagation.

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I was recently introduced to the term Keiki by folks in the Orchid Forum after I noticed a few unusual "growths" on one of my orchid plants and posted photos to inquire.

Now that I knew what a Keiki was, what should I do with one? Separate it from the parent plant, of course!

I did a little research online and read the advice of two forum members on just how to do this. I had 2 keikies on one of my orchids, and not knowing what they were at first, I let them grow on the mother plant longer than I probably should have. The keiki roots had grown rather long.

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My options were to pot them up or mount them on a piece of wood to allow them to grow on their own. I don't have a suitable place to hang a piece of wood, so instead I chose to pot them up. It was simple and easy once I had gathered all of my supplies.

Supplies:
Small pots with good drainage (could be plastic or clay)
Orchid Bark (small bag)
Orchid Moss
Rubbing alcohol
Scissors
Gloves
A large bowl or tray to mix together the moss and bark

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I sterilized the scissors with alcohol. (This prevents spreading diseases from plant to plant.) I cut the branch/flower bract stem of the mother orchid near the base of the keiki (where it is attached to the mother orchid), being careful not to damage the keiki roots. This step was relatively easy. The roots of the keikies were long, so I was advised to soak the keiki roots for about 15 minutes until the roots became more pliable.

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While they were soaking, I put on my gloves and dumped some Orchid Moss, which I had cut up into smaller pieces, and Orchid Bark together in a bowl to mix. I recommend that you do this in an area with good ventilation. Sphagnum moss can be a source of a fungal disease called sporotrichosis, which can enter the skin through cuts. It also releases some dust that should not be inhaled. After mixing the moss and bark together, add a little of this mixture to the bottom of your pot.

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Then add your plant to the pot, being very careful not to break any roots. Gently bend the roots so that they fit down and around into the pot. Add more of your moss and bark mixture to pack around the roots of the plant. Pack it in fairly tight to help the plant stay lodged in its new home. You may need to use an orchid pot clip across the base of the plant to hold it in place.

This photo is of a different orchid plant being potted up. I couldn't pot the keikies up and take photos at the same time due to the long root system, so I am showing a different orchid being potted up instead. It's showing the same results.

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I chose to use a plastic container and then placed the plastic container inside a clay pot. The plastic container (with many drainage holes) creates a moist environment for the roots. Clay tends to absorb moisture too quickly. You don't want the roots staying wet, but damp is good, so plastic works well for orchids. Clay pots provide an attractive and stable container for the plastic pot. A clear plastic container will also allow you to check the level of moisture the roots are receiving. You do not want your orchid roots to be drenching wet or dry. You should see some condensation inside the plastic container around the roots.

I used rain water to thoroughly soak my plants. The moss and bark should provide very good drainage, so most of the water will drain right through very quickly. You may have to water it more than once to make sure that the moss is fully saturated. Or you could soak the pot in a small bucket of rain water. If you don't have rain water, I would suggest bottled spring water (not distilled). I always add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide to the water, but that is a preference. I also add half-strength orchid fertilizer to the water as well to get the keikies off to a good start. I later fertilize using the recommended full strength.

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Place your new orchid in the desired spot to receive the proper lighting and air circulation. You have just increased your orchid collection or you can trade with friends. After discovering how easy it is to propagate my orchids, I've gained a whole new respect and appreciation for this wonderful and long-blooming plant species. Orchids can be grown successfully inside or outdoors, so I think every gardener should have at least one. Though .... my guess is that you won't be able to stop at just one!

I want to thank Elaine (dyzzypyxxy) and Ursula for their very helpful suggestions in the Orchid Forum.

 
Comments and Discussion
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Untitled by SCButtercup Nov 2, 2014 11:34 AM 3

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