Question
I have had this orchid for about a month. The flowers got darker in color and wilted. I have not removed them yet. Now the stem to where the first flower starts is turning brown. The base of the plan and leaves are still a brilliant green color. From what I have read it sounds like its the end of the blooming cycle, but I am not sure.  I am not really sure what I should do now, repot, cut the stem, remove the flowers, etc.  Can you give me any advice on what to do now? There is a picture of the flower here at www.orchidexperts.com.  thanks.

Answer
Kelley, youy are correct about the end of the growing season.  You may cut the flower spike off where it originates in the leaf axil (ie between the two leaves where it originates).  Hold off on the repotting until you have new growth-- that may be a few months.  While you are waiting, obtain a bag of orchid potting mix.  When the new growth starts coming, soak a portion of the potting mix and unpot your plant, rinsing off the roots in the process.  You may repot back to the same pot or a larger pot (about an inch or so larger in diameter).  Once you have repotted and new growth is showing, you may resume watering once per week and feed 1/4 tsp of plant food per gallon of water every other week.  For now, reduce you watering to once every other week-- just enough to prevent shrinkage of the pseudobulbs.  You can expect one or more of the older leaves to turn yellow and fall off as this is a resting time for your plant.  Oncidiums like a lot of light.  If you have a semishaded location outside, it will like that until temperatures fall to below 50 degrees.  In the winter, you could place it in a southern window if you have that exposure.  Next best is west.