Your problem is more that you are heading into Autumn than the just the two roots. They are very strongly seasonal so the best time to take the keiki off and pot it in a small pot is spring.

The wild ancestors come from monsoonal climates in south east asia where the orchids grow actively in summer, then do nothing in winter and flower in spring.

Maybe leave the keiki on the mother plant for now and do the removal and pot in a tiny pot in spring.

Try this

Andrea is in Zone 4. The general rule is "the closer the equator the more arid the mix".

D.nobile will usually only flower once it has a couple of back stems. Feed and water well during the summer and not at all during the winter. Here in Sydney, Australia we stop all water around 25th April (mid Autumn) and not water again until the plant has produced definite visible flower buds. If water is given during the winter it will turn flower shoots into keikis. Nobile keikis are best left until there are well developed roots on the plantlet, unless the stem is starting to wither like that shown in the pictures sent in by shavemonkey then leave it to develop, D.nobile will sometimes flower on the keikis, Cheers

No Ernest in orchids there are many ways to success. I frequently take keikis with 3 or 4 roots on a healthy stem and install them the same as the one above. My method on baby nobiles is to water them daily for the first year. And they like it. When the plant has several canes it get modest water and no fertilizer starting Oct 1. As soon as the buds appear they get frequent water and fertilizer. And they are in good clay pots with lava rock only. They are healthy and robust.

Harvey, I do the same as you. Easiest way is to take a section of the cane along with the keiki. I have them tied to trees and sitting in pots making roots. But I do agree with Arthur, the best time to do this would be Spring.

Jane

There is no universal correct method of doing anything in the orchid world. Depends on where you are in the world. Apart from being Cymbidium Heaven, here is Nobile/Softcane heaven. ET had a good point about about the need to preserve back canes to keep the plant at optimum flowering size.

Down to only a few nobiles, soon to be none. One was a mass of keikis that were removed from the plant and placed in thumb pots late last spring. All grew and will be sold at Beginners Corner at a orchid show in a few weeks time for about $2 each.

The original advice was given in the knowledge that Andrea is in zone 4.