New To Orchids Need Advise

[Harriette]

I recently purchased two beautiful Phalaenopsis Orchids, and a third orchid with no specific name for the orchid listed on the attached tag , which said Assorted Orchids. It did have small pictures of assorted orchids, and I tried to match the picture that looked most like the Orchid I purchased. It looked very much like the Odontoglossum. The flowers were reddish in color. It has since lost its flowers. It has two very long branches on which the flowers bloomed. Do I remove the branches before re-potting ?

[fred]

hi and welcome to the forum
I hope that you enjoy your stay here with us.

If you are talking about removing the old flower spikes you can cut them off.

It would also help us to understand your growing conditions if you could go into your User Settings and update your Profile with your Location as we have members from all over the world with different growing conditions

posting a pic would help us to see if in fact you do have a Odontoglossum

[jay]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Can't wait to see some pictures.

Jay

[Tobi]

Hi and welcome to the forum Harriette. As Fred stated, you can cut the spikes down.
A pic in the near future would help as well. Good growing.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

It is wise to sterilize your tool before cutting if there is any possibility that the stem is still alive. If it has turned brown where you will cut, it doesn't matter. Use heat to sterilize, not alcohol. You can also use a bleach solution, 10% or better to soak the tool for awhile to sterilize. I use a saturated solution of TSP (some powder remains at bottom), the real one with phosphate, not the brand named one that does not contain Phosphate these days. I keep a few shears in this liquid constantly soaking ready for use.

[Harriette]

Many thanks to all who gave me advise about my Orchids. I will be re-potting my orchids this week. I plan to re pot them in plastic containers since they retain moisture better than the clay pots. I also need to provide humidity, and that will be my next job. Any suggestions ?

I live in the Northern California Sierra Foot Hills east of Sacramento. I hope to post pictures of my Orchids soon.

Harriette