Question
Hi,

 I have a question on which fertilizer to use on my Phalaenopsis orchid. Since i have alot of cactus at home, can i use the same fertilizer? It is from SCHULTZ and 2-7-7. And how often should i fertilize it???

 My second question is which soil to use? My dad bought the plant few months ago, since he was not experimented, he just simply used the same soil as he repotted it. And on the internet, they said that we should also cut the dead and little roots as we are repotting it. How am i suppose to know if they are dead or not?

 Last thing is, I live in Canada, a dry cold country. How can i increase the humidity to that my orchid would REBLOOM?

Answer
Good to hear from you Nicole.  Let me answer your second question first.  You need to locate a source that carries orchid potting mix.  Any place that sells orchids should have it in hobby bags.  It is not soil, but a mix which may consist of several of the following ingrediaents: fir bark, tree fern, perlite, coconut fiber, charcoal, expanded clay pellets, sphagnum moss.  This mix is unique in allowing maximum air into the mix while retaining some moisture.  After yu obtain a bag of orchid potting mix, soak a portion in water for a couple of hours before use (unless it is alread moist).  While you are doing that, unpot your plant and rinse off the roots.  Remove any "mushy" roots as these are dead and retain only roots that are firm and/or have a green growing tip.  I prefer to use a plastic pot for my phals (I too live in a temperate climate) with lots of drainage holes.  Position the roots carefully into the new pot (sometimes this is best done by rotating the empty pot while holding the root mass in the pot). Once the roots are in place, slowly add the fresh potting mix a handful at a time and tap the bottom of the pot from time to time to help the potting mix settle in amonst the roots.  Fill the pot with mix to about 2-3 cm from the top of the pot and set aside to drain.

Phalaenopsis orchids prefer an east window for best growing and temperatures of 65-85 degrees. A balanced fertilizer is best ffor now but wait about a week before resuming your once per week watering. You may want to obtain one or two other plant fertilizers with different numbers and alternate them.  If you use 1/4 tsp per gallon of water, you may fertilize with every watering. As for humidity, you may be able to find a shallow pan and place about an inch or two of fine gravel (pea gravel) in the bottom.  Keep this pan filled with water until you can just see it and place you pot on top of the gravel.  Be sure the bottom of yu pot is not in contact with the gravel.