Question
QUESTION: Hello:
I just got a moth orchid (pink) as a gift, i read some information on how to take care of it but i still have some questions.
1.  an article said it's best to use soft water, but i don't know if the area i am living in has soft or hard water.  i live in SF bay area.
2. all flowers are bloomed now, but what should i do after they fall off? some said i have to cut the stem and re-pot, is that right?
3.  would it be a good idea to use humidity tray? how is the best method of watering it and how often? i heard once a week but other said twice a week. Sf bay area is pretty cool & dry most time.
4.  how often should i fertilize and when is the best time and best way to do so ?
5. what should i do with the rots that "climb" outside the pot?
6. i cannot open windows in my house, is air circulation going to be a problem? should i place it outside (in my yard) once in a while?
sorry for long questions, i would very much appreciate if you can help me out. thank you.
min

ANSWER: Min, I'll answer each of your questions in the order presented.

1.  Soft water, when it comes to orchids, usually means having a low mineral content.  The best source for this, in most cases, is rain water. However, there needs to be some minerals for growth.  If your tap water comes from reservoirs, it would have some mineral content and would be fine for orchids.  You could also use water from a dehudifier.  Any of these are fine.  When the water contains a lot of minerals such as calcium it is called "hard" and this should be mixed with a soft water (such as rain water) to reduce mineral content, yet provide some.

2.  Some phalaenopsis retain the green flower spike after flowering.  Cut off the flower spike just above the second or third joint (ie node) on the flower spike.  If the spike remains green, it may send out a flower branch from the node just below your cut.

3.   Watering frequency depends upon your potting mix.  If you use the recommended orchid potting mix containing fir bark particles in a well drained pot, try watering once per week.  Pour the water through the mix when you water so it gets well watered and don't water again until it feels really dry.  When you repot, you will need to soak the fir bark containing potting mix for an hour or two to break down the water repellancy of fir bark. If the potting mix is not fresh, you prrobably should water less because as the potting mix breaks down it retains more water leading to root root.  Yes, a humidity tray is a good idea.

4.  You may feed with each watering or every other watering using a weak plant food (eg 1/4 tsp per gallom). As with watering, water and feed early in the day.

5.  When you repot, you can try to incorporate those aerial roots into the potting mix.  

6. If you have an east window where you grow the plant, that is best. The plant will appreciate gentle air movement so if you have a small fan, try using that to provide gentle air movement. Phalaenopsis orchids are house plants.  If you put them in a semishaded spot outside, they don't want temperstures below 55 degrees, nor above 85 degrees.  They need to be protected from drying winds and slugs and other predators of foliage.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you for the quick reply and detail info.  just a couple more questions.
1.what should i do now with the root that are outside of the pot, i am not going repot at this point?
2.the plant come in a potting mix contain moss, i don't see much fir. is the water method going to be different then?
3.what material i need to cut off the spike after the flower fall off? will it bloom each year if i do that?
thank you
min

Answer
You can leave the aerial roots as is until you repot.
There is a good chance that the type of potting mix the plant came in has given rise to the start of root rot.  This is because the use of moss and fine particle potting mix are both water retentive and do not promote rapid drainage and good air movement to the roots.  Until you repot, you need to go easy on the watering-- only when the actual potting mix feels dry to the touch.

If the orchid is maintained in good health and given sufficient light, it should rebloom each year about the same time.  If you cut off the green flower spike after flowering, do so just above the second or third joint.  If the flower spike remains green, it might send off a branch from the joint (ie node) that could flower as well.  Before you make the cut, check to see if there are any small new buds at the tip of the flower spike. It isn't unusual for the flower spike to elongate and rebloom from the tip of the old spike after losing its flowers.