Propagating Orchids Using a Keiki

There are six main techniques used to propagate orchids: division, back bulbs, keiki, aerial cuttings, meristem or tissue culture, and seed. All of these techniques are commonly employed in the home or greenhouse, except propagation by seed and meristem tissue culture, which need laboratory conditions. The most commonly used method is by division, but since we’re most interested in Phalaenopsis orchids, we’d like to discuss the Keiki method.

Keiki the Hawaiian word for “babies”. In orchids, especially Phalaenopsis and Dendrobiums, the word describes a small plant that grows on a node along the flower spike. Under normal circumstances, a new branch would develop. When a Phal has finished flowering you would use these ‘nodes’ as a guide to cut the orchid flower spike back in order to induce a fresh flower spike to develop. A keiki is what happens when a small plant grows from one of the nodes along the stem instead of a branch.

This happens because of an accumulation of growth hormones at that specific point. It occurs naturally, or it can be induced by the application of keiki paste, the concentrated form of the correct growth hormones.

Plants grown using this method will be duplicates (actually the same plant) and you can leave them in place until they have a good root system and maybe two or three leaves. After six months the plant should be large enough to remove from the parent and potted in to its own pot.

Phalaenopsis grown this way should reach flowering size 18 months to 2 years after they first appeared. A step-by-step guide with photos is available, along with a reminder to label the plant so that you know which variety it is and the date you removed it from the parent.