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abnormal orchid growth


Question
 I have an orchid (I don't know which type) that is growing abnormally. After the original blooms died I cut the top off of the stem. two sets of leaves and what appears to be roots are now growing out of the side of the stem (just like the ones at the base of the plant) I don't know if this is normal, or what I should do about it. Its almost like the plant is starting new plants on its own stem.The plant looks healthy but it has not bloomed in over a year now. Can you let me know what if anything I should do about this. Thanks

Answer
You do have a new plant forming at a flowering node.  It will develop roots and, when the roots are an inch or two long, you may separate this plant below its roots from the mother plant and pot it up as a separate plant.  It is a clone of the mother plant. Plants so formed are called keikis.

It may be that this is prompted by light levels that are too low for flower buds to form.  Another possibility may be that you are feeding your plant with a high nitrogen fertilizer ( You will notice that your plant food had three numbers on the label, the first of these is nitrogen).  A plant food that has the nitrogen number higher than the other two numbers sends a signal to plant tissues to grow. This could be signal to your plant to start keiki formation.  The middle of the three numbers refers to phosphorous and is a "bloom booster".  It promotes flowering.  So when the time of the year arrives for flowering, using a plant food with a high middle number promotes flower formation.

You most likely have a dendrobium orchid (has upright canes) or a phalaenopsis orchid (no upright canes).  These both tend to produce keikis under the right conditions depending upon the parents used to make your hybrid.

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