Question
QUESTION: I have several Phals which 3 are doing great, all have put out new spikes off the old stem or a new flower spike completely and are in bloom now. One other looks healthy, has 3 old spikes which I left on because at the end of each there is a tiny green thing coming out from the topmost node, looks like growth bud but has not changed since last summer. I was thinking it might be a keiki but without any change at all in 7-9 months wonder what these can be?
This plant is not in bloom, looks healthy and is putting out new roots. Any suggestions on what to do with it. It has 7 leaves and is a good size.

ANSWER: Dixie, if you would like to have a keiki I recommend that you put your plant in near total darkness for at least a week before returning it to the growing area.  Keiki's. of course, are a way for the plant to reproduce itself. But, sometimes, the plant needs a signal to proceed.  A dark period stresses the plant and suppresses any flowering tendency. This allows growth hormones to flood the tissues and can stimulate keiki development. If this is ineffective and you see no change after several weeks, try cutting back the flower spike to just above the second or third node.

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QUESTION: What are the advantages and disadvantages of trying to get a Keiki except of course one gets a new plant. This one is a standard white orchid yellow center so nothing extraordinary - it was pretty but is the effort worth it for a keiki?

ANSWER: Dixie, if the orchid is nothing special, it may not be worth the effort. In that case, cut off the entire flower spike so future flowering will be new flower spikes only. Some plants go down hill for reasons I'll explain. Were it a special plant, a keiki may allow the plant to live on.   The other reasons for generating keikis is to grow them up and gift them to a friend, relative, etc.

You may know about repotting but I'll mention it because of its importance.  It is generally recommended that phalaenopsis orchids be repotted after each flowering. This is done in a special orchid potting mix that promotes air movement to the roots and prevent a potting mix that stays too wet. When this is done, new root and leaf growth is facilitated.  Larger plants usually mean more and larger flowers.

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QUESTION: Thank you for your speedy replies. I think I will repot it. I have repotted one sickly plant that still looks sickly but at least it is growing new roots. I have other tropical plants that I have repotted into larger pots and wonder if with orchids one uses a larger pot put back in the same 6" pot with new medium (I have bark). Also it has several roots growing outside the pot. When re potting do you leave those roots out in the air or try to put them in the bark planting medium?

Answer
Good questions Dixie.  With regard to pot size, a rule of thumb is to repot to a pot size 1/2 - 1" larger in diameter.  However, there is an exception.  If there is root rot which requires removal of several roots, it may be possible to repot back to the same pot.  With regard to aerial roots, you should soak these roots for an hour or so to make them less brittle.  It may then be possible to bend them enough to get one or more into the pot.  This is not crucial, but any aerial roots that can be placed into the potting mix will keep them more moist and allow them to grow better. A final caution about the aerial roots and that is to avoid bending them to the point of breakage.

Repot into a standard orchid potting mix. While it contains fir bark, there are other ingredients such as perlite, charcoal, etc that each serves a useful function.  Finally, be sure that the potting mix is soaked overnight.  Dry fir bark is difficult to wet and, if used dry, will suck water out of the roots.