Question: What Are These Little Leaves Growing From My Phalaenopsis Flower Spike?
Answer: A small plantlet that forms on an old phalaenopsis flower spike is called a keiki, from the Hawaiian word for "offspring." Keikis first look like miniature leaves that slowly grow into a miniature plant.
Keiki can be used to propagate phalaenopsis orchids. To propagate from a keiki, wait until a few roots have developed on the young plant, then snip it off (keeping leaves and roots intact!) and pot it up independently. The young plant will be an exact genetic duplicate of its mother. If you want to force the appearance of a keiki, buy a special hormone paste from a reputable orchid dealer and use it according to label directions.
The spontaneous appearance of keikis is not always a good sign. Some stressed plants will produce them in an effort to self-perpetuate.
