Question
My year old phaleo has had five beautiful blossoms for months. Now it has several spikes, which at first I thought were roots as they point downward, but they are green and one has the beginnings of buds. What's the best way to encourage them to be real orchids?--stay on the mother plant or cut and....?

Answer
Denny, flower spikes are photropic (ie they grow toward the light source) whereas roots are more geotropic (ie grow toward the ground and are less influenced by the light). Roots, when wet, also are green. To determine which you have, orientation of the light source is important relative to the plant. Try to orient the plant so the light source is directly overhead and see if the growths become more upright.  Send a picture if you have one.