Not sure which stage my phal should be in...

[vanillacreme]

Hi,

I acquired my phal while it was blooming in early September. It had flowers on it until around early November. After the flowers fell off, the spike was still healthy and green so I cut some of it off, above one of the upper nods. In late December I re potted the phal in a new media (it originally came in pure moss). The media is now a medium bark mix with charcoal, sponge rock and some spagnum moss).

I accidentally over watered the plant this weekend so re potted in fresh new media again, but this time left the bark dry, with a little bit of damp moss in it.

My orchid sits in a clear pot which has always been covered by a decorative covering.

It sits near a west facing window in my main bathroom. (somewhat humid after showers). we also have heated bathroom tiles which are on all day during winter.

The roots are yellow but firm, but are broken somewhat (not smooth). I did not cut those roots off. I rinsed with water and sprayed with H202. I have now removed the covering to let the roots photosynthesize.

My question is, I am not sure what my orchid should be doing right now. Should I cut the whole spike off to let the plant concentrate on growing new roots in the new media, or should I hope for the nod to activate and re bloom?

Should I place in a cooler/dimmer environment as well?

Pictures are included of what the plant used to look like and now.

In the 3rd picture, the white spots under one of the leaves are dried up water marks and the brown powder on top of one of the roots is cinnamon.

Please note: Although there are candles beside the plant in the picture, they were never lit around the plant. They were there for decorative purposes only.

Thanks for your help!

[Paphluvr]

If your first repotting of the plant was in the same mix and pot as you're using now I don't understand why you think you over-watered it. The pot appears to have good drainage. By not pre-wetting the bark the second time around it takes longer for it to stay moist (but that is negated by the use of the sphagnum). I would not repot it again, however.

On a more mature plant with more leaves, leaving the old spike on is OK, but on a younger plant such as yours removing it might be better. Your idea of letting it put more energy into growing new roots is good. This is the time of year that a lot of Phals put out their spikes but generally do not put on a lot of new growth. Do, however, continue to water and fertilize.

[vanillacreme]

Hi! Thanks for the reply.

I re re potted it as the aerial roots started turning brown and I think I watered it twice within one week by accident. The inner roots started to not look so happy (started turning brown), so I re potted it the 2nd time. I guess the roots also need time to adjust to the new media, so maybe they don't look as healthy as they did in the packed moss it originally came in.

I do see two roots starting to come out of the body of the plant though.

I think I'll cut the spike off. Thanks for the help!

[PaphMadMan]

I'll offer a differing opinion.

The plant will grow roots if and when it needs them, as long as you have it in good media with proper watering. There isn't a rooting season and a leaf growing season and a flowering season. A Phalaenopsis is perfectly capable of doing them all at once as long as it has conditions to support growth. The presence or absence of the old spike is irrelevant, and it takes virtually no resources from the plant as long as it is just sitting there. In fact, since it is green tissue it probably contributes some photosynthesis.

The old spike will branch and flower again, or may get a keiki, or it may eventually just die back. It will not inhibit new roots, new leaves or new spikes by being present. While this isn't a huge mature plant it doesn't appear to be undersize for flowering or weak. The plant will not initiate flowering or growth that it can't support, so why cut the spike?

If the plant is not in any kind of active growth (root, leaf or spike), and your winter conditions are cooler and darker, then don't push it. Cut back on fertilizer a bit and be especially careful not to over-water. But putting it in cooler darker conditions for no reason will just weaken the plant, or at least hold it back from active growth unnecessarily.

And resist the impulse to always be changing or adjusting or fixing something about your plant. One brief episode of over-watering is not a reason to rip the plant up and repot again.