Regular Keiki in blossom on Phalaenopsis mother plant

Regular Keikis on Phalaenopsis mother plant

Basal Keiki on Phalaenopsis mother plant

Keiki Hawaiian word for "baby" referring to a baby plant produced asexually by an orchid plant, usually used when referring to Dendrobiums, Phalaenopsis, or Vandaceous orchids. The baby plant is an exact copy (clone) of the mother plant, sometimes it is blooming still attached to the mother plant.

Regular Keiki is a small plant growing from one of the nodes along the flower stem instead of a branch. This is induced by the accumulation of growth hormones at that point, either naturally or by the application of keiki paste.

Basal Keiki is a baby plant growing from the base of the mother plant (see image). Sometimes keikis are blooming still attached to the mother plant.

Keiki paste is a cytokinin hormone which induces growth in the node of an orchid infloresence (not to be mixed up with paste or powder containing auxins, which would force the production of roots).

Nodes on spikes will form either vegetative growth (keiki) or floral growth (branch evt. with flower buds). There are differentiated nodes and undifferentiated nodes. If the node tissue is already differentiated so that it will become a floral branch, there is no way to change the result. The trick is to get the paste onto the node before it is differentiated. However there is no way to predict at a certain point if the node will be a keiki or a branch.

Removing Keikis Keikis are left on the mother plant until they developed a healthy root system and show two or three leaves. At this point they are removed carefully with a sharp knive and planted in a small own pot. Regular Keikis are cut below and above the stem, leaving a small piece of stem on the baby plant. Basal Keikis may be left on the mother plan until they drop off on their own or cut of when there roots are at least a few inches long.

You may expect a separated keiki to blossom after 18-24 months.