Orchids Keiki
On a dendrobium the keiki is typically found sprouting along the length of the cane or from the end of t he cane.
Orchids keiki. On a phalaenopsis a keiki arises from one node along the flower stem. The new baby will be genetically identical to the parent or source plant and it is about the simplest way we know of to get a new baby just like the original. Keikis can be used to propagate phalaenopsis orchids. Keikis are baby orchids and this formula makes it easy to create a new keiki either from the base or from a node on a bloom spike more typical.
Keikis are easier to distinguish on monopodial orchids like phalaenopsis because they will look just like a couple of tiny new leaves coming out of a spot where they wouldnt normally grow. Keiki is the hawaiian word for baby or child. Keiki means the little one child or baby in hawaiian which is where the term originated. A keiki will develop off of the plants stemmeaning either the spike or base on monopodial orchids or the cane on sympodial orchids.
Keikis are a good way to start new plants from the following varieties. In the world of orchids it means something very similar a baby orchid plant. The keiki is an exact copy of the original plant that grows from a node on the stalk or cane of an orchid plant. It is important to note the difference between a keiki and a shoot.
They occur most typically among the dendrobium epidendrum and phalaenopsis genera of orchids. Although we enjoy seeing our orchids flower unless we have a lab and the means to propagate from seed we dont polinate the flowers which can make some orchids especially any hybrids that have the species phalaenopsis equestris in there heritage feel the need to propagate. Orchid keikis are baby plants or offshoots of the mother plant and an easy method of propagation for some orchid varieties. When your keiki has developed several leaves and roots approximately 2 to 3 inches in length you can remove the plantlet from the parent orchid.
The orchids that most commonly produce keikis are dendrobiums oncidiums epidendrums and phalaenopsis. When it comes to orchid propagation many questions arise.