Question
My sister sent me a orchid when I had a hip replacement and it was beautiful. The plant was almost 30 in tall and in bloom.  Over the last 2 years it has been neglected except it was watered. The stalk is withering and it has 3 shoots with green leaves and root like formations in the flower area.  Can this root looking part and a piece of withering stalk be replanted?  If so, can you advise? I did replant in a pre bagged bag of Orchid potting from Lowes.

Answer
Jim, from your description I'm going to assume that you have either a phalaenopsis or a dendrobium orchid. I will assume that your orchid grows in the form of canes and, if so, it is a dendrobium.  Howver, both dendrobiums and phalaenopsis orchids can form planletts at nodes on the old flower spike.  These are called keikis. They can develop roots and leaves at those nodes.  When the leaves are about 2-3 inches long, the plantlet may be carefully removed from the flower spike and planted in orchid potting mix.  Glad to hear you repotted your plant. Be sure that you do all of your potting in well-drained pots with several drainage holes in the base.  If it is a dendrobium, it should be watered only when in active growth.