Some orchid varieties like phalaenopsis and dendrobium develop keikis. It’s a Hawaiian word that means “baby.” These shoots develop on faded flower stalks. Concretely, keikis are small bouquets of leaves which form on the scape, and under which aerial roots develop. The keiki is therefore like a tiny copy of the mother plant, which grows on its stems or base. If your plant has started to develop keikis, here is what you can do, according to the website specializing in indoor plants, House plant:
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- Leave the keiki alone until it grows a few more leaves, and a healthy root system;
- When your keiki is ready, separate it from the mother plant using a clean knife or shears;
- All you have to do is plant your keiki in a pot, using the same substrate that you chose for the mother plant;
- Since your growing baby already has a root system, the keiki will continue to grow normally. Simply water your pot and place it near a heat source.
Why put baking soda on orchids?
The benefits of baking soda are no longer a secret! This versatile product is used to maintain the house, but also to obtain beautiful vegetation. Indeed, baking soda is a natural fertilizer that will do your orchids a lot of good. All you need to do is dilute one tablespoon of baking soda in one quart of room temperature water. Use this solution to water at the base of your plant and admire the results! This natural fertilizer will stimulate the flowering of your plant to obtain beautiful colorful flowers.
Be careful, avoid putting baking soda directly on the orchids or on the substrate. It can harm your plant, due to the salt it contains.
Extra tip: As you probably suspect, baking soda is not the only natural fertilizer to use for your orchids. You can also use:
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- coffee grounds;
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- banana peels;
- egg shells
- cooking water from foods that contain starch such as potatoes or pasta.
By taking cuttings from your orchid, you will be able to multiply your plant to have an abundance of them…this way, you will no longer run out of orchid ideas!
