---
title: "Can anyone tell me what the hell my orchid is doing 😂 why is it…"
description: "Can anyone tell me what the hell my orchid is doing 😂 why is it growing leaves and aerial roots at the end of this dead branch 😭 I never cut the branch back…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/JmTUi1iSQr6-tX35luAMXQ/eUedt-e0SfCFqXqa_A74MA"
community: "The Orchid Oasis"
author: "harriet🪴🌵"
published: "2024-07-17T14:46:37.514182Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z2jTa4zP0BS-2G4Bzr3YRjI9KjbveH4Mw2Q4gW5cAKk/6EvQf17hQpO5KgAr0_AWqg.webp?size=large"
---

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# Can anyone tell me what the hell my orchid is doing 😂 why is it…

_Posted by harriet🪴🌵 on 2024-07-17_

Can anyone tell me what the hell my orchid is doing 😂 why is it growing leaves and aerial roots at the end of this dead branch 😭  
I never cut the branch back because it was still actively blooming

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z2jTa4zP0BS-2G4Bzr3YRjI9KjbveH4Mw2Q4gW5cAKk/6EvQf17hQpO5KgAr0_AWqg.webp?size=large)

## 8 comments

### eatyacarbs commented on 2024-07-17

it’s trying it’s absolute hardest to stay alive lol

#### harriet🪴🌵 replied on 2024-07-17

I don’t know what I’ve done to it😂😂😂t

#### eatyacarbs replied on 2024-07-17

looks like it needs water stat 🚨 maybe some fertilizer \& a fresh pot of orchid bark

### Heather commented on 2024-07-17

That’s a keiki! It’s a baby orchid and needs water and fertilizer just like the adult plant. Momma looks a bit dehydrated and the baby will take as much moisture as it can get. If you can get some sphagnum moss around its roots to help get it good moisture you might be able to remove him and give the parent plant a chance to recover

#### harriet🪴🌵 replied on 2024-07-17

Can I let it grow and repot then cut back the parent plant and keep both? Or is there a chance if I don’t get rid of it the parent plant will just die?

#### Jean replied on 2024-07-19

I’ve had a mother plant and keiki that I was able to keep alive. I waited for the keiki to grow big enough where it had its own roots and leaves. That’s when I detached it from the mom.

### Heather commented on 2024-07-17

If I were you I would put some moss so it is in contact but not smothering the root of the baby. Keep the moss moist and keep a close eye on the root that it doesn’t turn yellow. Since the stalk is already dying I think once the keiki gets a couple more roots you could remove the entire thing.

I’m assuming when you say “cut back parent plant” you mean just remove the flower spike. If you have dead or dying roots I would remove those and the other dead spikes immediately since it looks pretty dehydrated you are going to need some first aid for the parent as well. When was the last time it was repotted? Can you take photos of the roots thru the clear pot?

### Greg commented on 2024-07-17

I've had great success simply cutting off the pup and planting it in its own sphagnum!

Based on those roots it has, I don't think it needs anymore time attached to the host plant.

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