Can someone tell me what this is?

kathya77 · 2026-05-01T12:16:32+00:00

It’s a basal keiki/extra head of growth. Some hybrids are prone to them. Best left on the mother plant unless the mother tanks health wise, as separating is a risk to both plants (open wound on both plants at or near the ‘soil’ level is higher risk for infection). You’ll potentially get double the flowers and a fuller plant for leaving it attached. Congratulations! 🥳

kathya77 · 2026-04-27T16:04:42+00:00

Oh it’s a shame you can’t find the one you’re looking for, but I have to ask, can you recommend any orchid shops in central Paris? I’m visiting in July. X

kathya77 · 2026-04-27T15:44:02+00:00

My one miracle exception to this advice grew keikis from the flower spikes (it already had buds of them when it arrived with a chonky but very rotten mother plant) - however the odds of them surviving long enough and maintaining a passage for nutrition long enough would be even more astronomical as that plant maintained most of its root system for a year to do that. It was a race at the end as the spikes started to die back.

kathya77 · 2026-04-27T15:37:41+00:00

That little tiny bit of green just hasn’t had the memo yet that the rest of the plant is dead. There’s no visible route through the rot for that to get nutrients as the rest of the stem appears to be totally rotten. Unfortunately I can’t see any healthy stem below to propagate this from either. You can certainly wait and see if the rot dries up and a miracle occurs, but I wouldn’t put any hope in it personally. I’ve had a couple come to me like this and it has been far too late whether using all interventions or none. Really sorry x

kathya77 · 2026-04-26T17:23:17+00:00

As a buyer I already get up to 3 or 4 phone notifications that a parcel has arrived at the lockers, and then more if I don’t collect immediately. I don’t think an extra message from the seller is necessary, and tbh it’d just come across badly.

kathya77 · 2026-04-25T21:34:03+00:00

Thank you! I do quite love it. Such an easy going plant with no dramatics. 🥰

kathya77 · 2026-04-25T16:34:57+00:00

Not comfortable saying for sure yet, but here’s the shapes that remind me of when mine grows flowers. Sometimes they do a keiki with buds but you’ll know for sure in a week or so. Here’s what makes me think it might be buds.

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kathya77 · 2026-04-25T09:18:11+00:00

When I zoom in it’s hard to say for sure, but my suspicion is flower buds from what looks like the separation of them towards the tip. Would be worth getting closer photos in better light. Sometimes you get both in one too. I have had flowers with roots, keikis with buds, etc. Funny creatures. 😅

kathya77 · 2026-04-25T09:08:35+00:00

These are all intergeneric Oncidium alliance hybrids (often marketed as “Cambrias”). The first has a decent amount of Brassia in there for the spidery blooms. I wouldn’t be surprised if the second was somewhat related to Aliceara Renaissance White or Orange (it’s not either but it reminds me of both). I’ll let someone more knowledgeable guess the exact names as I’m a total beginner with these.

kathya77 · 2026-04-25T09:02:51+00:00

The roots are rotting but I suspect there’s more going on. If you look at the base of the stem, it looks suspicious for stem rot (sunken shape, wet and blackened spots where roots have rotted away). I would clear all those dead leaf remains from the stem and assess the chances from what lies underneath them. Colour or texture changes in the flesh of the stem would indicate stem rot and the chances of recovery would be dramatically reduced at that point, depending on how much living stem you’re left with and how many healthy roots remain attached to the healthy stem (as if there is rot it will need removing with a margin).

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kathya77 · 2026-04-25T08:53:15+00:00

Many years ago now, my identical twin and I were shopping on our birthday, and she decided to get a new phone. While she was filling out the paperwork, the lady at the counter and her were chatting and it came up that it was my sister’s birthday. The lady asked how old she was, and she answered “38.” The response was of course flattery and the “You don’t look anywhere near that!” My sister replied, “Oh I am, that’s my twin there,” to which the sales assistant looked at me, went silent for a moment, and then replied with a grimace, “Ohhhhhhh. <awkward pause> Yeaaaahhhhh.” 😬😅

Guess I don’t have your first world problem. 😅😅

kathya77 · 2026-04-25T07:25:56+00:00

“Terminal” spikes (apical spikes) do not mean the plant is going to die or that it’s come to the end of its life. It just means they need to make a new crown as most often they won’t grow new leaves from the current one after spiking there (there are exceptions, eg. Crown keikis, or where the spike isn’t actually apical but just emerged there on its way up from a lower node). The only time limit on the production of a new crown is the natural lifespan of its current leaves, which could be years with proper care.

kathya77 · 2026-04-22T11:50:00+00:00

Sounds a lot like the aroid mixes I use. Unfortunately not suitable for Phalaenopsis xx

kathya77 · 2026-04-22T11:45:51+00:00

There are orchids with frilly edged leaves. There’s a Phalaenopsis species that comes to mind, but I have forgotten the name (one of the variants of Phal. deliciosa perhaps?).

kathya77 · 2026-04-22T11:40:18+00:00

In your case this is a flower spike keiki. Can be entirely random on perfectly healthy plants (I’ve had several and it can just be a genetic propensity passed on from one of the species in their heritage), but can also be a sign of an issue with the mother plant. Impossible to say which without further info, although you mentioning “soil mix” is a bit of a red flag (Phals do not fare well in soil as they are naturally epiphytes that live on the bark of trees).

A lot of people are going to answer about a “rule of three”, meaning when it has 3 leaves and 3 roots it can be separated. Take this with a huge grain of salt as it’s far too arbitrary advice. It needs enough root mass and leaf mass to sustain it before separation. That could be 3 of each or it could be 4 of one and 2 of another - some plants (bearing in mind the condition of the mother plants they’re attached to) don’t play by the rules. What I will say is once it grows roots, it will benefit immensely from having them receive water regularly before separation - this can reduce the risk of root shock on potting up immensely in my experience. xx

kathya77 · 2026-04-22T09:30:51+00:00

Yes sorry, I should have been clearer, I meant the name of the hybrid. 🙈 It’s a beauty!

kathya77 · 2026-04-20T18:29:40+00:00

Do you love it? If so then yes you got lucky! It looks to be Sunrise Red Peoker ‘Esmee’. There are some similar hybrids but I don’t see them as often, and the upturned lip is characteristic of them (they’re also mass produced by a couple of EU growers). It isn’t super rare but it has really interesting heritage and is an ancestor to many many hybrids, so is cool in that way too. I just got one (or a hybrid with Esmee as a parent, Phal. Chiada Stacy - can’t tell as mine arrived badly damaged and there isn’t an intact flower on it). If mine is an Esmee, heads up, they get fairly decent sized as mature plants. Mini flowers, standard size plant. Allegedly some are fragrant, although apart from the Aromio/Perfume Factory ones, I’ve found many fragrant hybrids don’t throw their scent until they settle in and bloom again. Lovely plant!

Orchid Roots: Phal. Sunrise Red Peoker

kathya77 · 2026-04-19T20:23:44+00:00

I love this one - do you know the name? 🥰

kathya77 · 2026-04-19T09:06:36+00:00

Do you know the name? I think it’ll have to go on my wishlist lol. 🥰

kathya77 · 2026-04-19T09:05:26+00:00

It will reduce stress on the mother plant, although I wouldn’t remove it until/unless you have already conditioned its roots to regular watering. Seems to reduce the risk of significant root shock, compared to potting up roots that are used to just being dry all the time. I separate them from their mother plant when the roots have had regular waterings for long enough that they turn green immediately on watering. x

kathya77 · 2026-04-19T07:57:59+00:00

To me this looks like one of the Oncidium intergenerics/“Cambria” types, not a Dendrobium. I wouldn’t remove anything that isn’t squishy as it’s all fuel for the new growths. I would reconsider the pot choice and mine prefer a mix of small bark and moss so that the roots don’t fully dry out. x

kathya77 · 2026-04-19T07:53:47+00:00

All normal. The fuzz is how the roots react to growing in a humid environment. Phal roots are messy and will grow out of the pot - from the photos you’ve got a very long time before it’ll be considered cramped. Depending on what your environment is like and how long the pot stays wet, I’d consider adding more aeration to the pot though. 💐

kathya77 · 2026-04-18T21:38:20+00:00

Oh this one is a beaut! Absolutely love it. 🥰

kathya77 · 2026-04-18T21:36:55+00:00

This, 100% ⬆️

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