Many spikes on phal, please help

[RosieC]

Ah yes, Beth's pic is good, better than mine was anyway.

On a spike you will quite quickly see that 'mitten' like shape as in the pic.

[seamonkey]

Also, spikes will be a uniform green whereas roots will have a silvery covering with a green tip when dry and be bright green when wet.

[Grandma M]

Welcome, from another Michigander.

Marilyn

[Pantsonfire]

The above ground roots can get out of hand. You can do what you want with them, but you can't make them turn into underground roots. I just let them grow until I "accidently" knock them off.

Orchids are social plants, they prefer company. You should talk to the plant, find out about its friends. You might want to invite some to visit, maybe even move in with you.
Of course then its friends will take over the place, and you won't have any money or space left..

[Blueszz]

I would say don't cut the roots that grow in the air. Your plant probably knows what is the best way to grow (the roots). I had several roots that grew in the pot and then decided to grow out of the pot. At first I tried to work them in the pot again but the orchid refused to obey and decided to sent it out of the pot again. That same period it also decided to grow a root that never went into the pot and went straight up from the beginning. It's about to push out a new root, wonder where that one thinks it needs to be. I never understand why some roots have to be above the medium and some in... when the plant I talk about decided it needed to have roots out of the pot, it grew a new root towards the medium in the same time.

Nicole

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Pantsonfire

Orchids are social plants, they prefer company. You should talk to the plant, find out about its friends. You might want to invite some to visit, maybe even move in with you.
Of course then its friends will take over the place, and you won't have any money or space left..

omg - is that ever true!

[mspatt]

I second the advice from Rosie--IMHO I think aerial roots are gorgeous and would not cut them. I love to water these roots and watch them turn green

[quiltergal]

Originally Posted by KerryK

Dear Group,

So all those are roots--even the tall ones that I have tied up? If so, and I untie them should I cut them back to fit in the pot?

Kerry

Yes they are all roots. I would unclip them from the stake. They really don't need to be staked up. I wouldn't cut them off either. I have found that when aerial roots don't find water the tips dry up and that's then end of their wandering. When I repot I put them back in the pot, and they usually stay there. You'll always have some aerial roots it's just the natural way orchids anchor themselves.

[KerryK]

Thanks you all,

You have been great. So helpful. This site is great.

Kerry

[Singingirl96]

I must admit I laughed out loud when i saw your roots staked like a spike.... sorry, but true. But that's a really cute rookie mistake. Some of those roots are worthy of a prize! Great growing. Now just keep taking good care of it and hopefully you'll see a real spike soon.