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Orchid keiki: what it is and when to pot it up

By the Grove Plant Care team · Updated November 12, 2026

A keiki is a baby orchid growing on the mother plant, usually from a node on an old flower spike, at the base, or along a Dendrobium cane. It's a free new plant. Leave it attached until it grows its own roots, then cut it off with a clean blade and pot it in a small pot of orchid bark. The roots are the signal: the American Orchid Society says about 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) long on a moth orchid.

What is a keiki on an orchid?

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The word comes from Hawaiian, as the American Orchid Society (AOS) explains. Where you find one depends on the orchid:

  • On a moth orchid spike. A node on an old flower spike can grow a little plant instead of a flower branch, say the AOS and the RHS.
  • At the base of a moth orchid. The AOS says mature plants, and plants that have just finished flowering, often grow keikis from the base.
  • Along a Dendrobium cane. The RHS says keikis can form on older canes of Dendrobium.
  • On a Vanda. Mature Vandas make side shoots the RHS also calls keikis.

At first a keiki is just a couple of leaves. Roots come next, and they're what it needs before it can live on its own.

Why did my orchid grow a keiki?

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Each node on a moth orchid spike carries a dormant bud under a small papery sheath. That bud can grow into a flower branch or into a new plant, which is why an old spike sometimes surprises you. The AOS describes both outcomes from the same node.

Common reasons the sources give:

  • Stress. In the RHS windowsill trial, keikis showed up on some plants, and RHS experts linked them to stress. That's one trial, so treat a keiki as a nudge to check light, water and roots.
  • A cane Dendrobium kept warm and wet in autumn. The NYBG and the RHS agree: a nobile type that gets no cool, dry rest grows keikis along its canes in place of flowers. Our rebloom guide explains the rest it needs.
  • A spike from the crown. When a moth orchid's flower spike grows out of its growing tip, the plant may stop making leaves there and grow a keiki at the base instead, per the AOS.
  • A cut stem. After an overgrown moth orchid is topped, the AOS says the old base often sprouts keikis within one to six months.

When is a keiki ready to separate?

When is a keiki ready to separate?
OrchidReady whenSource
Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)Roots about 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) longAOS
Moth orchidIt has several good rootsRHS
DendrobiumIt's about a third the size of the parent and has roots (or leave it on)RHS
VandaNew roots, ideally three or more, at least 2 cm (about 3/4 inch) longRHS

Both sources say the same thing in different words: roots first, scissors second. A keiki with leaves and no roots can't take up water yet, so cutting it early leaves it with nothing to drink.

How do I pot up a keiki?

  1. Check the roots. Use the table above. If they're short, wait a few more weeks.
  2. Clean your blade. Wipe scissors or a knife with 70% alcohol or soak them in 10% bleach, as the NYBG advises, so you don't carry disease from one plant to the next. Our repotting guide has the details.
  3. Cut it free. Cut through the spike or cane just below the keiki, leaving its roots whole.
  4. Pick a small pot. Use a pot just big enough for the roots. The RHS warns that too much mix stays wet and invites rot.
  5. Use orchid mix. Bark-based orchid mix only: the RHS says ordinary potting compost will kill a moth orchid. Set the roots in and firm the bark gently so the keiki doesn't wobble. A small stake helps.
  6. Water sparingly at first. The RHS also suggests misting the leaves daily. Do it lightly and early in the day so the leaves dry before night, since the AOS links water left on leaves to rot.
  7. Give it time. Treat it like any young orchid: bright indirect light and the same care as the parent. Watering and light are covered in our watering guide.
Going deeper

Can you make a keiki on purpose? The RHS describes how: slit the small sheath over a node on a spent spike with a sharp blade, peel it back, and dab keiki paste, sold by specialist orchid suppliers, onto the bud underneath. A plantlet should appear in about six to eight weeks. The RHS adds that ordinary rooting hormone won't work.

Why would a paste wake a bud? In a 1981 study in the Thai journal Agriculture and Natural Resources, a cytokinin, a type of plant hormone, applied to the dormant buds on moth orchid spikes made them grow plantlets, and the lower nodes responded best. Only the RHS among our sources describes the home method, so treat it as an experiment, with a healthy plant.

Can I leave a keiki on the mother plant?

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The RHS gives you both options for Dendrobium: leave the keikis on the canes, or pot them once they're big enough. A keiki at the base of a moth orchid sits right beside the mother plant, so look closely at the roots before you cut, to be sure you're taking only the keiki's own.

If the parent is weak, with few healthy roots, fix that first. The AOS advises cutting off flower spikes on weak plants so their energy goes back into the plant, and our root guide shows how to check.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How long until a keiki blooms?

Expect to wait. The RHS says a Dendrobium keiki usually takes one to two years to flower. None of our sources gives a figure for a moth orchid keiki, and Clemson notes that young orchids in general need time to reach flowering size.

Can I pot a keiki that has no roots?

It's better to wait. Without roots it can't take up water from the mix, and both the AOS and the RHS tie separation to roots. Leave it on the plant a little longer.

Should I cut the old spike after I remove the keiki?

Treat it like any finished spike: if it's brown and dry, cut it at the base. Our after-blooming guide explains where to cut a green one.

Can I make my orchid grow a keiki?

Some growers use keiki paste on a spike node, as the RHS describes in the section above. The AOS also notes that the base of an overgrown moth orchid that's been topped often sprouts keikis.

Sources

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