Shorten Phalaenopsis?

[JRC]

Hi,

I "took" this orchid from a friend of mine, who didn't want it anymore (didnt really took care of it):



I just repotted it.
Should I cut the flower stems?? Or leave it and just be patient.

[DweamGoiL]

For a rescue it's in pretty good shape...lucky you. I have been pondering rescuing one from another office buddy, but I am afraid that once I get it back to a bit above merely surviving, she will want it back and end up killing it anyways.

I am a newbie so I don't really know much about the cutting back, but if it were me, I would cut down the flower spikes to the base to give the plant a rest since it will now have to get used to you and your conditions, but I am sure others with more knowledge will chime in soon

[james mickelso]

I second DweamGoils suggestion. Three inflorescences on any phal no matter how healthy is quite a drain on it. I would cut them off at their bases and give it a well earned rest. Feed it lightly and watch the water. Not too much. I let mine dry to where when I pick it up it is fairly light weight. Then I water it completely and then let it dry completely again. I also give mine a nice breeze which they really like. Little or no air flow is one of the biggest problems we have when it comes to growing orchids. These orchids, in fact most orchids grown in commercially come to us from a green house environment where the temps are moderate to high and there are big fans blowing air around the GH constantly. The light level is perfect and the light length is controlled. Then we get them and put them in our houses with no regard to how they grow in nature. We keep them in the house without and air movement and then wonder why they rot. Get a small desk top fan and blow some air on them. Not right next to them but you should be able to feel the air move when you put your hand near them.

---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:49 PM ----------

Beautiful phal by the way. Keep it.

[shushu45]

Beautiful Phal.!
I agree with James cut them off.

[JRC]

Ok, I just cutted them off.

What about the black /brown roots on the top?? Shall I leave them too?

[shushu45]

The might not be dead. R they squishy instead of ferm??

[Skayc1]

My first Orchid was in the same kind of container as yours & I'm told it is a Phalaenopsis same as yours, It bloomed till december i water it with 3 ice cubes once a week or week and a half. I'm now fertilizing it once a month. It has grown a new leaf & it's roots do not look brown like this one. even though I am new to orchids my instincts would be to re-pot it looking for rotted roots & to remove the rotted ones..