Question
QUESTION: I have had my cym orchid for two years.  It bloomed last year and the shoot is starting to form pods this year. My question is what are those long appendages that grow out of the plant. A large large one of these is growing out of the plant base now, but the other long things are skinny.  There are probably mor than ten of the long things.  Please tell me what they are, what to do with them. Thanks.

ANSWER: Laura, your description leaves me puzzled. It would be nice to have a picture.  The only new growths on a cymbidium are the flower spike and new shoot growth.  The latter starts out as skinny, grass-like leaves and eventually will form pseudobulbs at their base.  The flower spike emerges from a pod-like structure at the base of the plant. I would let them grow and develop.  Any growth other than what I mentioned would be from adventitious seeds that found a home and are sprouting in your cymbidium pot.

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Close up of long appen   QUESTION: I am ataching a photo of the long skinny appendages on the cym, so you can tell me what they are. Thanks.

Answer
Laura, thanks for your photo-- it clears up everything.  Your plant is, in fact, not a cymbidium orchid, but a phalaenopsis orchid.  The "long, skinny appendages" are, in fact, orchid roots.  These orchids have both roots that grow in the potting mix and aerial roots that grow above the potting mix and, as the name implies, grow in the air. The roots and the plant look very healthy and you are to be congratulated for a good growing job. When you decide to repot this plant in orchid potting mix (should be after each flowering), you may wish to soak these roots before repotting until they turn green and, if you wish, you may carefully place them, along with all the plant roots, into the new pot before adding fresh potting mix. Orchid roots can be quite brittle and the soak helps make them more pliable. For the best growing, you should have as many roots as possible in healthy condition so don't cut them off.  In nature, these plants grow in the tropics on trees with the aerial roots hanging down to collect rain water and benefit from the air movement about them.  Orchid potting mixes are special potting mixes designed to provide air movement to the roots while retaining some moisture as, in nature, they grow in humid climates.