Hi Altair, I think you need an "all of the above" category. In "Understanding Orchids" by William Cullina, it states that "Keikis may be a sign of trouble in the mother plant - damage to the growing tips, root problems or other stresses - or it may be just a natural means of reproduction." I bought a happy phal at the Portland Orchid show at the end of March. It had three spikes and a real bushy plant with lots of wild arial roots. It turned out that the plant appeared so full was because it had two keiki's growing from the base of the mature plant along with the three spikes. The plant looked great but I was a bit suspicious because of all the arial roots so I unpotted it. It was planted in moss and the moss was real wet. No living roots were in the pot. I changed the medium to a med size bark and tucked in as many of the arial roots as I could without damaging them. I put it in a clear plastic pot so I can tell that the roots are growing fine now. So far everything looks good for flower blooms on at least one spike. The other two are still too small to tell. I removed one of the keiki's while transplanting it - only because I didn't realize it was there in time. I would think the only way to know for sure if the plant is in stress is to unpot it and take a look at the roots.

I found the instructions on the internet.Apparently it will take 6 months to have several leaves and a nice root system before planting in bark. I am excited to be having a replica of the mother plant. It is my best orchid so I hope it all works out.

I would let them grow together. You get a nice big plant with lots of blooms that way. Also, separated keikis are tender and slow to establish sometimes. Does it happen often? Depends on the ancestry-- doritis put out basal keikis like crazy. can form big clumps. I have had a doritis keiki just a few months old form another keiki. I think it's phal schilleriana that also can form keikis from the roots. So, depending on the ancestry, it would be not be uncommon.

No-Clue What kind you you have that your not having any luck with? I'm thinking of selling rooted cuttings next April. I have quite a collection I'm putting together and my success rate is 100% out of 400+ plumeria cuttings this year. I just sent a 3 foot 4 tip plant still in the dirt to California from Florida and it was perfect on arrival leaves and all. Do you think this is what some folks would appreciate? I've got sticks that fall on the ground here from when we have high winds and then they root right into the ground before I can pick them up! ( I've got photos coming soon to show this ) All my potted cutting get outside sunlight directly on the black nursery pots, this heat stimulates the root growth coupled with very high humidity. VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure the cuttings callous properly! Fresh cut doesn't mean plant right away!!! I lay mine in a cardboard box in the garage and forget them for weeks on end, then I plant them. Your thoughts? Stuart