Phrag rebloom question

[Lady Meera]

Hi all
I purchased a Phrag Nicholle Tower in June at an orchid show. It was in bloom. The grower told me low light, keep it moist, and when the blooms stop to cut the spike back and that it would get a new one. So I've been keeping it out of direct sunlight in a well lit room. I have it sitting in a decorative pot with with wet rocks on the bottom to increase moisture and humidity. It bloomed very well and is now done.

Before it lost its last flower it started producing a new growth.

I am having trouble finding information on phrags, particularly regarding this new growth and reblooming it. I am also finding some conflicting information on light needs and whether it will rebloom from the old spike.

So here are my questions:

1: is my light sufficient (well lit room, no direct sun)
2: should I cut the spike now or wait until it browns?
3. What is this new growth? Will the new spike come from here? Is the old growth done flowering and if so how long does it take this new growth to mature?
4: should I repot every year and if so when? Now?

Here is a picture of the new growth.
Thanks in advance. Any tips are appreciated. Like I said I'm having a hard time finding info on phrags. I understand their culture is not the same as paphs.

[Lady Meera]

Here is the bloom. For some reason I can only do one picture at a time from my tablet and they are alway sideways

[silken]

Your Phrag. is a cross between Phrag. dalessandroi and Phrag. longifolium-2 species so it is a primary hybrid. It should be a successive blooming type. So after the first bloom is done or nearly done, another one will grow on the spike and bloom. It can produce multiple blooms on 1 spike this way. The old blooms will fall off, no need to cut anything and a new one will take its place. Once it seems to be finished and no more buds forming, then cut it back. At that point it will not bloom again from that spike. Once the new growth you have is matured and fully grown, it will develop a spike and do the same thing again. These Phrags like to have wet feet so keep it nice and moist. I have my Phrags sitting in a bit of water and they seem to like it.

[Lady Meera]

Thank you!

Yes it did bloom sequentially and it is now done (no bud formed behind the last bloom) so I will cut it back.

Any advice on re-potting?

[silken]

What is it in now? These need some moisture retaining media. I usually use a fairly deep pot as they seem to have longish roots. I mix some lava rock, bark, a bit of moss and often perlite and/or charcoal. Then I stand it in a small dish with about an inch of water and change it often and water them often. They are a bit sensitive to too much fertilizer so keep it dilute. Their leaf tips can turn brown if too much.

[Lady Meera]

It's in a mixture of 6 parts of medium fir bark to one part each of med charcoal, medium sponge roc, medium lava rock (red) and ½ part tree fern (according to the grower's website). I fertilize with 20-20-20 1/4 tsp per gallon once a week. I have it sitting on wet rocks. I water it about twice a week, when the plastic id tag comes out dry.

It is in a fairly small container, about 3 inches by 3 inches and there are some roots starting to peek out the top and bottom. I read that because they stay so moist the potting medium breaks down easily so they should be repotted every year. If I repot I will have to buy the appropriate mix.

[silken]

That sounds like a good mix it is in. I agree, the media does break down and get stale pretty fast which they do not like. Have you looked at Repotme.com? I haven't bought from there, but they have a number of different mixes for various types of orchids and various supplies. There are other places too that sell what you would need. I would get something a bit chunky, the clay leca balls are good too. I forgot I do use them sometimes because I don't have much access to lava rocks. But you will need something moisture retentive as well. I have used Orchiata bark which doesn't break down quite as fast as regular bark, but costs more.

[Lady Meera]

Yes I have bought from repot me. Never medium though. I see you can customize your own mix and they also have paph/phrag mixes. I will look into this more. Thanks for all your expertise!! It's a big help