Question
I was given an orchid last year and by some miracle I didn't kill it.  I have no idea what type of orchid it is.  We live in San Antonio so we have plenty of humidity.  It spent all of last summer and early fall on our sun porch (out of direct sunlight) but when the weather got cold we brought it inside.  By then everything had stopped blooming and fallen off the stalks.  I honestly thought it had died over the winter, but on the off chance it hadn't I put it back on the sun porch about a month ago and lo and behold it has new growth!  However, where there is new growth, the roots are growing on the stalk.  Do I cut the stalk and pot this new growth or just leave it alone?  It is doing this in 4 different places, on three different stalks and at the base.  The tallest stalk is over 2 feet tall and has one of these new growths near the top.  I can send pictures if you need them.  All the stalks have "knuckles"(?) on them that are about a half inch wide and very green.  Can you help me?

Answer
Hello Evelyn,

You are finding out how tough and hardy some orchids can be.  Yes, it would make things a little easier for me if you could send a photo of your orchid, send it to [email protected].  Unfortunately, this web site does not allow including photos within messages.  

I have a sneaky suspicion what type of orchid you have but a photo would help confirm this.  I suspect it may be a dendrobium orchid or possibly a vanda orchid as many of them will produce new growths along the stalks.  

From San Antonio?  Are you a Spurs fan?  If you are, you must be in 7th Heaven right now.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.