Newby Needs Help

[Royal]

#1 It'll be impossible to ID it without flowers. Post a few pics of the plant just to be sure of the genus. Then you'll be able to give it the right conditions for that variety. If it's been around that long, but hasn't bloomed, I'd guess it is not getting enough light. Just a guess though.

#2 It sounds like an old flower spike. If it is dry you can go ahead and cut it. Cymbidiums won't rebloom on old spikes. Any roots out of the potting medium may look a little rough, but it's the ones in the pot you need to worry about. Can you describe the container and the medium it's planted in? It may just want a repotting and a patient caretaker.