Basal Keiki. I purchased a mini phalaenopsis orchid about a month ago with a basal keiki. Keikis can occur when the mother plant is struggling.
Basal keikies are usually not separable from the mother plant because they often share the same root system and even if they dont the amount of shared tissue is so great its had to separate them without doing a great deal of damage. Under the bottom leaves along the main stem are dormant nodes which can develop into a new growth. A different kind of keiki called a basal keiki can develop at the base of a Phalaenopsis orchid.
Since one of my viewers requested a video about Phalaenopsis orchid propagation by keiki separation here is an example that I have and how I would go about.
A keiki will be the same genre as the mother and will have similar color and likeness. In cases of crown rot where the root system of the affected plant is strong a basal keiki may form to allow the plant to continue growing leaves. Basal keikies are usually not separable from the mother plant because they often share the same root system and even if they dont the amount of shared tissue is so great its had to separate them without doing a great deal of damage. Its put out 2 roots that are at least 2 long and it has put out 2 new roots that are snaking up and around the base of the mother plant to find the potting medium.