Question
I received a Phal. Janet last year that has blooms on it.  Since then the blooms have fallen off and I trimmed the stalks back to the leaves.  I had another stalk try to grow but it died.  I now have 2 roots that are growing out of the plant and I'm not sure what I should do about the roots - they are each about 6-8 inches long but are growing straight out from the pot that it is in.  How do I truly take care of this, the roots and get it to flower again?

Answer
Barb, you need to repot your plant in fresh orchid potting mix.  Once you ahve obtained the special orchid potting mix, unpot your plant, rinse off the roots and remove any that are mushy as they are dead, and soak the plant, especially the roots that have been out of the pot, for an hour.  This renders the roots less brittle and may allow you to put them into the new pot more readily without breakage before adding the fresh potting mix. Use a plastic pot that is about as deep as the roots are long.  Be sure the plastic pot has lots of drainage holes in the bottom. You now want to grow new roots and leaves in preparation for next spring's flowering.  Water once per week and the preferred growing area is inside in an east window. Do not let the pot stand in water.