Mehitabel I bought some of this a couple of years ago from a guy in France (I am in the UK). I used it as instructed twice and got a new spike from the node each time rather than a keiki.

Having read (on this forum I think) someone saying that they had produced keikis from a cut phal spike I did a little experiment this winter. I cut the spikes from three different phals when they had finished flowering. I applied keiki boost to one and nothing to the others. I then placed them in water in a large propagator with my seedlings. I thought the propagator would give better warmth and humidity than a room.

The outcome is that two are producing keikis (one with keiki boost and one without)and one has died. I am not sure if this tells you much about the merits of keiki boost but it may well be worth putting a spike in a vase of water once it has finished flowering.

Terry

Wow, Terry. Thanks so much for the reply. A *cut* spike, eh? Can't wait to try it when my spikes finish blooming.

I had noticed that a lot of smaller vendors offer a few keikis on a routine basis, so thought there had to be some way of producing them with some consistency.

I hope for some more experience with the keiki paste, tho.

Thanks again for the terrific hint.

Mehitabel, I don't know if you read the 3-part article in Orchids Magazine. If you subject Phals to a 6 week cool-down and initiate spiking, when the spike is less than 2 inches, increase the temps to 'very warm,' it can cause the plant to produce keikis instead of buds. Apparently, the high temps cause vegetative growth, rather than flowers.

Might be worth a try.

Jane