Question
Hello Jim,

I live in Toronto,Canada. I bought a Phalaenopsis orchid plant about 18 months ago. When i took the plant out of the pot for repotting... to my surprise i found it was filled with only sphagnum moss. I also found that none of the roots were growing through the moss( all were outside the plant). I have now repotted the plant in an orchid potting medium with  bark. Have i done the right thing?

The spike is still green after the blooms have dropped. Do i cut it off? If so...how short do i cut it?

Please advise

Thanks

geeta  

Answer
Hello Geeta,

You did the right thing by repotting it into a bark mix. Phal roots need air to circulate around their roots and sphagnum moss tends to clump and decay fairly quickly, choking off air to the roots.

As long as the spike tip remains green, I'd leave it alone. There are a few phals that are capable of producing blooms over several years, with the spike growing longer after a rest period (6 to 8 months). If the tip turns brown, you can remove the spike by cutting it off about an inch from the bottom. But, if there are 4 or more mature healthy leaves, you can try cutting the spike off about an inch above the topmost node (bump with a tiny leaf covering). There may be a secondary spike grow out from the node, it will take from 3 to 5 months for it to bloom.

I hear Toronto is a beautiful city. The only Canadian cities I've been to are Vacouver and Victoria, B.C.

Hope this helps. Good luck and good growing.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.