Question
My orchid has stopped blooming, but the leaves are healthy looking and there seems to be a new sprout on the stem...I have it in indirect lighting in the bathroom with a skylight....lately I noticed there seems to be a growth or tube like growth at the bottom almost translucent in colour....should I pull it out? How can I get it to bloom again? I keep the moss looking soil moist......help!

Answer
Deborah, it is likely that the translucent growth at the base of plant is an aerial root.  You do not want to remove that from the plant.  Phalaenopsis bloom once per year-- usually in the spring.  They should be repotted annually following flowering.  Please use an orchid potting mix to repot.  Phalaenopsis prefer an open potting mix that allows air to circulate at the root level so orchid potting mix is quite coarse-- consisting, in part, of fir bark.  I do not recommend moss as it tends to either compact over time, remains too wet, or dries out too quickly.  At this point you need to concentrate on establishing conditions necessary to grow the plant well to have a strong plant for next spring's flowering.  When you repot, check the plant's roots.  You will probably find some that are mushy.  These are dead and need to be removed prior to repotting.  Repot into a plastic pot with lots of holes in the base for air movement and good drainage.