Question
Hi Jim,
I have been trying to grow some of my orchids on top of a 3 foot tall wall divider between my kitchen and dining room facing a large kitchen window and a long sliding glass door.  I live in FL.  I don't remember the name but I think they are a very common variety.  When I bought the first one over 1 1/2 yr. ago it had a long flower stem with several big purple flowers and long thick green leaves (maybe 7 - 9 inch leaves).  When the flower stem died I cut it back to 1 inch which was recommended on the insert and it has been growing for the past year more thick green leaves but no flower stems. I bought the recommended fertilizer, moss and trellis. A couple of times I saw a white short growth with a green tip growing and it grew in the downward direction in the moss so I thought it was a root.  Now somewhere else in the pot I see this thing growing out, is it a root or am I finally getting a flower?  Also, 3 more of these white things with darker tips are growing up higher in the stalk and are also aiming down.  Should I cut them off?  I have been searching the Internet to see what a new flower stem looks like but can't find any pix.
Any advise you give me would be appreciated.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
Meryl

Answer
Hi Meryl,

Depending upon if you live in south, mid or north Fl., can make a difference in getting orchids to rebloom - depending upon what kind of orchids you have.  From your description of long thick green leaves I am assuming you have phalaenopsis orchids.  

Since you said it is apparently growing new roots, they must be doing fairly well with the exception of not producing new flower stems.  New roots will have a green growth tip followed by a grey or white root behind it.  New flower stems will start out looking like a new root but will be all green or reddish green as they grow longer and longer.  As for the roots, allow them to grow down into the pot.  

Living in Fl., humidity is probably not a problem.  How far from the window is the wall divider?  If it is more than 4 feet it probably is too far from the light.  In Florida you probably want it to be about 3 to 4 feet from a south or east window so it will receive good indirect sunlight.  You did not say if you were feeding it but it would be a good idea to give it some fertilizer once in a while.  In the fall try to expose it to night temperatures near 55F for several weeks, that may help get it to begin the bloom cycle.  The rest of the year temperatures between 60F to 85F are fine.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.