Keiki

In horticulture, a keiki (/ˈkeɪkiː/ KAY-kee) is a plant produced asexually by an orchid plant, especially Dendrobium, Epidendrum (sensu lato), and Phalaenopsis orchids. The baby plant is an exact clone of the mother plant, sometimes flowering while still attached to the mother. The word keiki is Hawaiian for "baby" or "child", literally "the little one".

In addition to keikis which grow on flower spikes, Phalaenopsis may occasionally produce basal keikis at the base of the orchid.

If a new plant is desired, the keiki should be left on the mother plant until it develops a healthy root system at least 3 inches long and has two or three leaves(for a Phalaenopsis) or canes (Dendrobium). For a Phalaenopsis keiki, this may take 6–12 months from when the keiki first forms. At this point, it can be carefully removed with a sharp knife and planted in its own pot.

A separated keiki can be expected to flower in approximately the same amount of time it would take for the cross or species to flower from a seedling. Some species orchids like Phalaenopsis pulchra frequently produce keikis, which flower while still attached to the mother plant.

If a new plant is not desired, the keiki can be removed at any time. Removing the entire inflorescence after flowering is complete can prevent the production of keikis and result in a "tidier" appearance for the plant.

Keiki paste is a cytokinin hormone which induces growth in the node of a Phalaenopsis inflorescence. It should not be confused with paste or powder containing auxins, which are used to force the production of roots.

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Wikipedia