Phal rescue with old spikes, what do I do

[jasonmom]

OK, I bought another rescue . This one says it is Phal. K. V. Beauty. It has two spikes. One has three flowers past good bloom. This stem is green and extends past the flowers. The other spike is brown and drying out.

What do I do with the stems/spikes after the flowers fall off?

This one is in moss and the container is solid (no air holes). I was thinking I should repot this one (read about center moss balls that never get dry and rot the roots). Should I go ahead and repot it?

I will try to read (again) the "stop Phal abuse", but I'd love a simpler way.

My Cattleyas are in coarse bark. Am I remembering right that with the Phal I should mix in a bit of moss?

Any help will be appreciated Thanks

[WhiteRabbit]

After flowering, you can cut down the spikes. If the spikes are still green, you can leave them to see if they produce more buds.

Orchids definitely require pots with good drainage, so yes, repot. Fresh potting media is also a good idea. Cut away any rotted roots with a sterile instrument.

As to potting media, I'd skip adding sphag.

[NYCorchidman]

I also leave the spikes alone on my phals. They turn brown and die on their own, then I let it go bone dry (which takes forever!) then I can simply break off and toss. lol
If the spikes stay green, I just leave them on. Some people have different opinions on this, but I think it is up to the owner, but I do not see any harm done on the plants. Plants are not dumb. They do what they do. These green spikes may bloom again almost immediately after the main flowering is finished by extending the tip and adding a few more flowers.
Or it will just sit there until the next flower season and make a branching spike off that main one and bloom.

Does your phal come in think clear plastic container that sits inside a decorative pot with no hole or is the plant planted in the pot with no hole??

If the latter is the case, I would either be very careful with watering or repot it now, which probably is the best solution.

You can use any potting mix, but you have to adjust the watering accordingly.
You can use straight bark, but you will have to water more often. Adding some moss is a good idea as phals going from straight moss to straight bark can be tough on the plant unless you water really well with straight bark, which many people do not, hence drying and stressing the plant.

Do you like to water often or not? The answer should dictate what type of potting mix you should use.