please help with 1st orchid

[Connie Star]

Hi Lisa and welcome to OB. I'll echo others, that plant looks very healthy. Now, all you have to do is buy it a few companions.........

[Judy 1990]

thanks for all advice from every one would i need to repot the plant now even tho its october and in to a bigger pot then what it in now

[Judy 1990]

what kind of ferterlizer do i use

[Judy 1990]

i think my orchid is lonly

[Daethen]

If you only have one orchid, it is deffinately lonely.

[Judy 1990]

hi can i get ferterlizer from wilkinsons shop and bark mix and can i repot my plant now or will i have to wait till spring and i just cut the stem down its growing more new roots now

[CTB]

Don't use a bigger pot, stay with the same size pot. Orchid like to be crowded, and when you remove old bark you will see orchid fits, and then you fill around it. If you use big pot takes too long to rebloom. The same pot is even good, then you can see your roots.

[Orchid126]

The only thing brown on your plant is the dried up flower spikes. That's because the plant is done with flower production. It's now making tons of new roots. You can tell the roots are active by the green tips. The dried spikes can now be cut down to an inch or so.

If you want, you can slip the plant out of the pot to inspect the roots in the middle of the plant. Don't go by the color of the roots, go by the texture of the roots. Plump is healthy, dry or mushy is bad.

If the bark is okay and doesn't look like it's decaying, you don't have to replace it. But if it looks like it's breaking down, repot into new bark. You may not need a bigger pot, depending on the condition of the roots and if you have to cut a lot away. If the roots are pretty good and you need a bigger pot, get one that will accommodate the roots and a only little bit more. Orchid roots like to be snug.

Be sure to soak the new bark for a couple of hours to condition it. Tuck the new bark around the roots with a pencil til the roots are firm in the pot.

[Judy 1990]

hi can i cut some of the dryed roots away what are hard and brown rest of roots have got green shiny tips and all green

[Masdyman]

Hello Lisa ,Your Phal looks good and so did your lunch !
I wouldn't repot until the pot is full of roots ,cut off the old spikes ,if the spikes hadn't of gone brown then you could have cut them back to a node. you have learnt the lesson of not overwatering or letting the plant sit is water .If you use a standard plant feed then i would feed at 1/4 the recommended dosage @ every watering .
When the pot is clear you can easily tell when to water ,if in doubt leave the watering out ! Phals can go up to 6 weeks without water so are difficult to under water , i wouldn't suggest you water every 6 weeks though ,you water a plant when it needs it .
Only cut away mushy or really over shrivelled roots , i am sure you can tell what are good or not .
Regards Keith