Question
I have a phalaenopsis orchid it's prob btw 3-6 mths old- suddenly there are all these little silver/white shiny bugs all through out the bark or whatever it's in. how do i get rid off them? Also I would like to repot and was insure of how big the pot should be to replace it in. There was all kinds of new sprouts but the ended up dying now. I really love this plant and don't want to lose it.
thank you for your time,
Kristin

Answer
Kris, thank you for your questions. Those small flies, most likely "fungus gnats", are harmless and an indicator that your potting mix has degraded.  They lay their eggs in potting mix that is damp and soil-like. You need to obtain a hobby bag of fir bark based orchid potting mix.  Soak a portion of this mix before use as it usually comes dry and dry fir bark repels water.  The soaking will decrease the water repellency of the fresh mix.  Then, remove the plant from its pot, discard the old mix and rinse the plant roots.  Remove any roots that are mushy as these are dead. Retain the firm healthy roots.  The size of the pot will depend upon the size of the healthy root mass. Choose a plastic pot that is slightly larger that the one currently in use.  Insert the roots and slowly rotate the pot so the roots will lie next to the inside pot wall. Some roots may be thick and be careful not to damage those.  Use of the fresh potting mix should eliminate the fungus gnats and give the plant a new lease on life. We use a fairly loose potting mix so air can reach the roots and, also, that the water will drain out quickly. An east window is a good light source where the plant can receive morning sunshine. Avoid getting the plant too close to the glass during the winter months.  Now that you have fresh potting mix (after repotting) you should water the plant thoroughly once per week.