Question
QUESTION: My orchid's flower stalk is yellowing but there are two new "air roots".  Do I leave those or cut them off.  I know that I need to repot so I will do that but this is the first time the whole stalk has turned yellow.  I am not even sure that the new growths are called air roots.  I do fertilize each time I water which is generally once every week to 10 days.  Thanks for your help!
Kathi

ANSWER: Kathi, thanks for your question.  First, I'll assume that you have a phalaenopsis orchid, which is the most common type in cultivation today.  It appears that you have the type of phalaenopsis hybrid that loses its flower spike after flowering.  You may cut it off where it joins that plant.  It is likely that you do have air roots, especially if the growing tips are green.  It is a good time to repot. After unpotting, rinse all of the old potting mix from the roots and remove any roots that are mushy before repotting.  When repotting, use a fir bark based potting mix and soak a portion of it before use.  You may place the plant in the potting mix so that the air roots are in the potting mix.

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

QUESTION: Yes that is the type of orchid that I have.  It has flowered for about 4 or 5 years and now the stalk is yellowing.  The air roots are 2 to 3 inches long and are growing kind of up and are about a quarter of an inch in diameter.  Do I still try to get them in the soil.  I think it might put the rest of the plant low in the soil.

Answer
Kathi, it is not essential to bury the air roots.  Some think they are unsightly or see it as a sign that something is wrong. The main concern is that as they grow away from the plant and potting mix they encounter drier air and tend to stop growing. In some respects this is good and limits the spread of aerial roots.