What Are Orchid Sprouts?

Keikis

• Some orchids, such as members of the Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium genera, can develop small sprouts, or offshoots, along their stems that are new plants. These offshoots are commonly called "keiki," a Hawaiian word meaning baby. Orchids are able to produce keikis because their plant cells are totipotent, meaning they can develop into any type of orchid cell, according to the University of Wisconsin's BioWeb. A keiki sprouts only on certain areas of orchids -- from nodes on orchid spikes, stems and roots -- and under certain conditions, typically when a plant is under stress.

Keiki Production

• One factor that might cause orchids to produce keikis is heat stress. Flower buds develop when orchid spikes reach approximately 2 inches in length and the temperature is less than 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is more than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, a keiki can form and buds might stop development. The plant saves energy by reproducing asexually through keikis instead of sexually through flowering. An accumulation of growth hormones at the keiki's base produces the new growth. When keikis are mature, they typically fall off of the parent plant. If they are cut off properly, they can be cultivated.

Propagating by Keiki

• Orchids can be propagated by removing keikis when they have leaves and two or three air roots that are 1 to 2 inches long, according to the American Orchid Society. Removal of keikis is performed by using a sterile knife to slice the stem between the mother plant and the keiki or by cutting the stem above and below the keiki's attachment point. Handle keiki roots gently, as they might be brittle. The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service recommends being careful not to damage orchid stems when cutting. Although a stem may be in a weakened state, if it is not further damaged, it may live to produce more keikis or flowers for a while. Keikis, with all of their roots attached, are then planted in a potting medium suited to their variety.

Keiki Paste

• Keiki paste, a formula of plant hormones and vitamins in lanolin paste, encourages keiki development if it is spread on plant nodes. A scientist created the paste when he was trying to rescue a rare plant that was extinct in the wild.