Are there any orchid growers here?

[pecwae]

I've had one for 3 years and it has yet to flower again.

Another looks to be sprouting a new plant, if orchids do that. It now has buds and new roots growing about 8 inches above the mother plant. I don't know how to safely repot if this is indeed a baby.

[Puglover]

1. Yes, fellow mod.

I used to have 150 of the critters. It sounds like you have a Phalaenopsis maybe?

[Imalittleteapot]

2. Describe the "buds".

Do you mean flower buds? What kind of orchid - phaleopnosis?

You can cut the new growth (8" above mother part) 2" or so below the new leaves and roots. I like to have that 2" to provide an anchor in the potting mix. Use a light orchid medium soaked in water for 24 hours before potting (some use sphagnum moss), then plant so that the bottom of the leaves are just sitting on top of the mix and some of the roots are buried. All of my plants are in clay pots.

There are tons of sites to offer advise. I'm no expert. I've been winging it with my collection and have 7 plants in spike with flower buds and 4 blooming. They bloom once a year. Here's what I do:

Light-
South window in the winter or artificial light.
Outside in eastern light (no hot afternoon sun) all summer.

Food-
Feed with 1/2 of recommended amount of Orchid plant food bi-monthly. Stop feeding when flowers open.
Feed with seaweed or fish emulsion occasionally.

Water-
When the potting mix dries out - approximately once a week, more often in the summer, submerge the pot in a sink full of room temp. water for 10 minutes or drench with running water. This doesn't have to be done every week (it is a pain) but they love a good soaking. I do it once or twice a month. Other wise, just water like you would any other plant. Most of my orchids are sitting on a bed of fish tank gravel in a tray. Run off from watering provides humidity...or you can poor water into the tray (or saucer) when the water evaporates. The pot sits on top of the gravel and is never submerged in the water. AND lightly mist leaves and exposed roots daily in the morning - occasionally adding a wee bit of orchid food or liquid seaweed to the water in the sprayer.

Soggy leaves usually mean too much water.

Sounds like a lot of work. Are you sorry you asked? Caution: Once you get the orchid to bloom you may get addicted to orchids as I have.

Let me know how it goes.