Repotting an orchid with a keiki (baby plant) that’s too young to be separated requires careful timing to ensure both the mother plant and keiki thrive. Based on orchid care principles and practical considerations, here’s a concise guide to help you decide whether to repot the mother now or wait, along with steps to proceed.

Key Considerations

• Keiki Maturity: A keiki is too young to be separated if it has fewer than 2–3 roots (each at least 1–2 inches long) or lacks sufficient leaves (typically 2–3 healthy ones). Separating too early can stunt or kill the keiki.
• Mother Plant Health: If the mother orchid’s roots are rotting, overgrown, or the potting medium is degraded (e.g., soggy, compacted bark), repotting is urgent to prevent further stress or disease.
• Potting Medium: Orchids (e.g., Phalaenopsis, common for keikis) need well-draining media like bark or sphagnum moss. Degraded media can harm both mother and keiki.
• Stress Timing: Repotting is stressful. If the keiki is actively growing or the mother is blooming, delay repotting unless absolutely necessary to avoid shocking either plant.

Should You Repot the Mother or Wait?

• Repot Now If:
  • The mother plant shows signs of distress: rotting or mushy roots, yellowing leaves (beyond normal aging), or a foul smell from the pot.
  • The potting medium is broken down, retaining too much water, or growing mold, which risks root rot for both mother and keiki.
  • The pot is too small, with roots overflowing or no room for the keiki to grow.
  • Action: Repot both mother and keiki together into a slightly larger pot, keeping the keiki attached to the mother. This minimizes stress and ensures the keiki continues receiving nutrients from the mother.
• Wait If:
  • The mother plant is healthy, with firm, green roots and stable growth.
  • The potting medium is still airy and well-draining, supporting both plants.
  • The keiki is very small (e.g., roots under 1 inch or only 1–2 tiny leaves) and would benefit from more time to mature on the mother.
  • The mother is blooming or the keiki is actively developing (new roots/leaves). Repotting during active growth can divert energy from development.
  • Timeline: Wait 3–6 months or until the keiki develops 2–3 roots (2+ inches long) and 2–3 leaves, then repot or separate if desired.

How to Proceed

If Repotting Now:

1. Assess the Plants:
   • Gently remove the orchid from its pot to inspect roots. Healthy roots are firm and green/gray; trim black, mushy, or dead roots with sterilized scissors.
   • Check the keiki’s roots and attachment to the mother (usually on a flower spike or stem). Avoid disturbing the keiki’s connection.
2. Prepare Materials:
   • Use a clear plastic pot with drainage holes, slightly larger than the current one (e.g., 5–6 inches for a standard Phalaenopsis).
   • Choose fresh orchid medium (e.g., medium-grade bark, sphagnum moss, or a mix). Soak bark in water for a few hours if dry.
   • Have rubbing alcohol and sterilized tools (scissors, pruners) to prevent infection.
3. Repotting Process:
   • Place a layer of medium in the pot’s base.
   • Position the mother plant so its roots spread naturally, keeping the keiki elevated (e.g., near the edge or supported by the medium). Ensure the keiki’s roots contact the medium but don’t bury its base.
   • Fill around the roots with medium, gently pressing to secure without compacting. The mother’s crown (where leaves meet roots) should stay above the medium.
   • If the keiki is on a spike, stabilize it with a small stake or clip to keep it upright.
4. Aftercare:
   • Water lightly to settle the medium, then wait a few days before regular watering (typically every 7–10 days, ensuring the medium dries slightly between).
   • Place in indirect, bright light (e.g., east-facing window) and maintain 60–80°F with 50–70% humidity.
   • Mist the keiki’s roots if they’re exposed, but avoid overwatering to prevent rot.
   • Monitor for stress (e.g., wilting leaves) and adjust care as needed.

If Waiting:

1. Maintain Current Conditions:
   • Ensure the potting medium remains airy and drains well. If it’s starting to degrade, top-dress with fresh bark or moss without disturbing roots.
   • Water sparingly, letting the medium dry slightly between waterings to avoid rot.
   • Provide bright, indirect light and stable humidity/temperature.
2. Support the Keiki:
   • Mist the keiki’s roots lightly if they’re aerial to keep them hydrated.
   • Secure the keiki to a small stake or the pot’s edge if it’s wobbly, ensuring its roots can grow toward the medium.
   • Optionally, apply a diluted orchid fertilizer (e.g., 1/4 strength, monthly) to support both plants’ growth.
3. Monitor Progress:
   • Check the keiki every few weeks for root and leaf development. Once it has 2–3 roots (2+ inches) and 2–3 leaves, consider separating or repotting.
   • Inspect the mother for root health or medium breakdown. If issues arise, repot sooner.

Additional Tips

• Keiki Separation (Later): When the keiki is mature, cut it from the mother with a sterilized blade, leaving a small piece of the spike attached. Pot it in a small (3–4 inch) pot with fine-grade bark or moss. Treat as a new orchid.
• Orchid Type: Phalaenopsis orchids commonly produce keikis and tolerate repotting well. If you have a different type (e.g., Dendrobium), confirm its keiki habits, as some require different care.
• Avoid Overhandling: Minimize disturbance to the keiki’s roots or connection to the mother during repotting to prevent shock.
• Fungal/Bacterial Risks: Degraded media or overwatering can harm both plants. Use cinnamon (a natural antifungal) on cut roots if needed.

Sources and Insights

Web sources like the American Orchid Society and gardening blogs (e.g., The Spruce, Orchid Bliss) emphasize repotting orchids every 1–2 years when media degrades or roots outgrow pots, with caution around keikis to avoid premature separation. Posts on X and orchid forums (e.g., Reddit’s r/orchids) suggest repotting mother and keiki together if the mother’s health is at risk, as keikis rely on the mother for nutrients early on. My knowledge aligns with these practices, prioritizing the mother’s root health while protecting the keiki’s development.

Recommendation

If the mother plant’s roots are healthy and the medium is still functional, wait 3–6 months until the keiki matures (2–3 roots, 2–3 leaves) before repotting or separating. If the mother shows signs of root rot, degraded medium, or overcrowding, repot now, keeping the keiki attached and using a slightly larger pot with fresh medium.

Can you share more details (e.g., orchid type, root condition, or keiki size)? I can refine the advice or provide a visual guide for repotting if needed!