Help, mother-in-laws Phalaenopsis Orchid

[mistie]

I have read up on some of the posts and found them very helpful. My Mother-In-Law moved and gave me her Orchids. From the posts, I have determined that they are Phalaenopsis Orchids. I have just been watering them for the past year and a half and they have been doing great. I asked her about re-potting them and she said she had not done anything with them. They have flowered over the years and she has not even cut off the "branches" (I know this is incorrect terminology). They are white and dry-dead. Could someone please tell me how to care for these. They are beautiful and deserve better care. The roots are even flowing over the pot-everywhere! At the present one is flowered with four more buds, the other has no flowers or buds. Please help. I need to know what to do and when.
Thank you,

[Ellen]

With orchids, like everything else, a good rule to go by is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". It sounds like your orchids are doing just fine the way they are. To improve the plants' appearance you might want to cut off all the old dried out spikes. Roots hanging out of the pot is normal for phals. It doesn't necessarily mean they need repotting. However, if the plants have gone many years without repotting and the medium they're growing in is broken down, it might be time to repot. I wouldn't repot a plant that's about to bloom. Wait till it finishes and starts putting out a new leaf. If you do decide to repot, there are plenty of people on this forum who can give you good advice about how to do it.

[jerrymeola]

If they have lived and flowered for many years they do not need any better care.

You can cut the flower stems off at the bottom if you would like. It will have no effect on the plant, it is only for looks. Leaving the stem on will not hurt the plant and cutting it also will have no effect except appearance.

Ellen was right when she said if "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Even re-potting is not necessary. Phals like to be a little moist all the time so the decaying bark is being washed out as it decays. With some plants you can wind up with all roots and no medium left.

New medium will require you to slightly change your watering amounts. New medium will hold less water then the medium in which they are now.

I re-pot cattleyas and many other types often but Phals and Dens can go a long time without a change if you do not over water.