Trimming tall stem after flowers are gone?

[darleneq]

I was told to clip off one-half of the stem when it has finished blooming, is this true???

I was also told not to repot until the roots come out the top of the pot, is this true???

Roots are coming out the bottom and not the top of my plant.

I'm a true newbie to this orchid hobby!!!!!!!

NewbieQ

[janet_a]

take a look here

http://aos.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx

and see if you find your plant. in general, cutting a flower spike after the flowers have fallen off and cause the plant to grow another spike sideways out of the old one, and it will bloom some more. this is gnerally a bit stressful for the plant though.

as for roots, orchids in general "like" to be pot bound; don't worry if the odd root is coming out the bottom. (i say "like" because frankly they'd rather be hanging off a tree somewhere in thailand or ecuador; we stick them in pots because it's easier for us. smaller pots are better; you don't want too much pottong medium in there staying too wet and rotting the roots.)

[jerrymeola]

Everything you have been told is part true but too general.

Only phalaenopsis orchids (moth Orchid) can grow new flowers out of an old leaf. Those can be cut to the first node (about 1/2 the stem). Any other orchid can have the stem cut off. It does nothing good or bad to the plant. Cut it off if you do not like the way it looks.

Phals will have roots out of the pot and still will not need to be repotted. Other orchids can have roots coming out the top of the pot and still not need to be repotted.

In general orchids like to be in the smallest pot possible. Too large a pot causes the orchid to grow roots to fill the pot and not develope flowers. Too large a pot also does not dry well and can lead to root rot.

Since you said the roots were coming out the bottom of the pot I doubt you have a Phalaenopsis. It is not common for their roots to go out the bottom. Debdrobiums, cattaleyas and oncidiums often grow out the bottom. Their flower stems can be cut totally off when the flower dies.

You need to spend some more time with your orchid. Keep reading the questions on this forum and as you get more knowledge come back and ask more. You need to get a more basic background so you know what to ask.

Start with the name tag and learn what family of orchid you have. Learn its basic needs and then start to ask more specific questions.

It is normally not necessary to repot an orchid the first year you own it. Roots growing anywhere is a good sign. If they are conming out the bottom they are grwoing in the pot as well. Orchids normally grow bare root with their roots exposed to the air. Only humans try to force them into a pot.