Question
Hi, just wondering if I should or need to do anything with my phals orchids that are doing very well for years. They bloom every year, sometimes they'll be two spikes, I even every so often cut part of the old spike at the node, wax the cut so I would have more blooms. Anyway, my question is, these healthy phals have lots of leaves on them, making the orchid leaf growth kind of tall. On the average, there  would be at least 12 leaves, 2 per row. So, should I leave them as is, though I would have to be careful with the orchid not to tilt over. Also need to stake a stick to get the leaf growth to grow straight up or it will go sideways. Or can I carefully cut them with one or two roots intact to plant them so I can have new phals orchids? The leaf growth is just too tall. Please let me know what to do, thanks!
Orchid Lover, Waimond

Answer
Waimond, my rule of thumb is that if the plant is doing well, don't change anything. It should grow stronger with age. Any disturbance of growth is likely to set the plant back some.  However, I understand that a plant may become too large for its growing environment.  There are, as you have suggested, several options here. If you have new root growth (less than 2 inches)coming from upper half of the plant, you could "top the plant" by removing the upper section.  Cut off that part of the plant just below where the new roots are emerging. Then, remove the two leaves just above the emerging roots. By removing these two leaves you can better anchor the new plant in its pot and have the new root growth well down into the potting mix.  You may want to stake this top part of the plant so it is stable and can better root. Use caution when repotting so as to not damage the new root growth.  Depending upon the type of phalaenopsis you have, I would expect the remaining older growth to develop new growth from a node or from its base.

Another option, is to remove four lower leaves and repot the plant into a deeper pot.  Here too, I recommend staking to stabilize the plant in its pot.  In either event, be sure to wet your potting mix thoroughly before use. Since you're doing such a great growing job, we will not discuss the type of potting mix or frequency of repotting.  Great growing.  Remember, whatever you do, the plant will go through an adjustment period.  Feel free to ask followup questions.