That keiki is large enough to live on it's own in a very small pot. I'd carefully take if off now before the rot goes into the keiki. It will be just fine.

You can pot it now. Put it in the smallest container you can find, a little sphag moss or fine wood chips and carefully lay the plant on the surface so the roots are not buried. They will eventually seek moisture and grow into the medium or grow new roots.

It is important to make sure you do not overwater. Dendrobiums like to get watered and dry out. You need to learn the culture of these plants so you don't have the same thing happen with the baby plant.

Jane

Here is a link that might be useful: Dendrobium

What a big, beautiful keiki! I never had one get that big. It should be fine on it's own.

What a big, beautiful keiki! I never had one get that big. It should be fine on it's own.

Don't take it off the cane. Cut the cane a few inches either side of the orchid. First time is bigger than you need. Next cut the cain again so the ends of the cane are wedged in to the top of the pot. The plant and roots need to be on top of the medium, not in it. The old cane becomes a rhizome clip and the new orchid will continue to get hydration and nutrition from the old cane. It will rot away eventually. but with luck the plant will be established.

I agree with shavedmonkey, leave it on the cane. I did this with the one in the photo last year. I just took the whole cane and stuck it in a pot and filled with bark to just below the keiki, the old cane is to the right of the photo against the wall of the pot.

Next you will have to figure out why the mother plant died. From the photo it looks like the pot is too big and the mix too fine.

i know nothing about orchids ....

but i ask..what would happen in nature ...

would not momma collapse .. and the babe fall to the ground... and root in ... even maybe hang in the air.. until a root hit soil or tree bark ???

whenever... whatever plant.. when i dont know what to do.. i think about how ma nature would cope with it.. and try to mimic such ...

in other words... and i ask you opinion ... cut momma ... an inch or two.. either way of the babe.. and lay it on top of good media for this plant.... and let her rot away .. and babe.. root in ...

what do you think???/ .. am i full of new years spirit??? .. lol

ken

Perfect!

Jane

In nature the species are living in their perfect habitat forever. So as the cane dies it falls to its most perfect spot on earth. You have a hybrid, designed by man not nature, and it is far removed from natures intentions.

Thank you guys so much! The plants was suffocating in its old pot and I had had no time to re-pot it myself, so my florist offered to do it for me, it didn't occur to me that she'd have prepared an inadequate mix for the dendrobium but I will pot the baby alone or perhaps along with the two stems that are still healthy (which I guess I'll have to re-pot as well) Happy New Year!