I’m not really into flowers, so I’m looking for some advice. I have grocery store orchids from two years ago that are always in bloom. They have 3-7 flowers each basically nonstop. Unfortunately they have far outgrown the 17" stakes I put in their very small original pots and I don’t know what my best option would be. I water them with two ice cubes once a week and I’m not looking to really increase the level of investment I’m putting in. I know I’m not doing a lot, but I’ve not had to feed them or mist them or any of the other things I keep reading online and I’d like to not have to worry about that. My main issue is that they are getting way too tall. I read that you can cut the stems, but I’m worried that any cutting will prompt additional flowering and maybe a need for more water or food or something that I likely won’t be able to recognize causing them to die. I also keep seeing people talk about pots with holes and special airable soil, but they are in little plastic cups and I can lift them straight up and the soil is basically a solid almost styrofoam-like consistency so I’m not sure I believe what I’m reading. Any advice or suggestions to preserve the low maintenance aspect while trimming and possibly repotting would be greatly appreciated. I looked online and this post is my exact same experience to a T: https://www.reddit.com/r/orchids/comments/1igq42f/my_orchid_is_over_3_feet_tall_and_not_sure_what/

Most comments there say to cut the spikes so it focuses on leaves and roots, but I really don’t think they have enough space for more leaves or roots, and I’m worried that repotting will ruin whatever my streak is with keeping them alive on just ice cubes since that seems uncommon. I’ve never kept a flowering plant alive for this long, despite a thriving vegetable and herb garden, so I’m a bit attached. If I cut just the ends of the spikes will it still flower? Should I cut the whole spike and just hope it doesn’t get too big for the pot? Is repotting really as care intensive as the comments suggest?

  • Günther Unlustig 🍄@slrpnk.net
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    6 hours ago

    I water them with two ice cubes once a week

    Stop that, now. It’s an evil marketing trick from the industry to sell you more of their plants.
    While you may haven’t killed it for now, the cold shock can severely stress the plant.

    Don’t over water it tho.

    Best way would be to take it to the sink instead and let some hand warm water run through the pot.

    but I’ve not had to feed them or mist them or any of the other things I keep reading online

    That’s because most orchids are very efficient in recycling their resources. I would recommend adding a bit of (mineralic) fertilizer. It doesn’t need to be special orchid fertilizer, but it needs to have some micronutrients.

    Right now, every bloom is on cost of other parts. You will see the plant decline over time. It will recycle what’s left in the leaves and die a long death.

    If you keep it healthy and properly nourished, it will thank you with lots of flowers!

    Most comments there say to cut the spikes so it focuses on leaves and roots, but I really don’t think they have enough space for more leaves or roots, and I’m worried that repotting will ruin whatever my streak is with keeping them alive on just ice cubes since that seems uncommon.

    Leaves and roots will grow no matter what, it isn’t either/ or. It’s only when forming a massive new spike/ buds the vegetative growth slows down for a while.

    If your plant looks similar to the one in the link, definitely cut it. Preferably not directly at the base, but leave one or two unopened nodes so a new spike can form as soon as the plant feels ready for it. That secondary flower spike costs less energy than forming a totally new one and can lead to multiple flowering waves all at once.

    Most supermarket Phalaenopsis are hybrids that are made to be blooming constantly. As long as it isn’t weak or something just let it do its thing.

    If you prefer to get one single big flush at once, cut it at the base.

    Regarding repotting: needs to be done yearly. You probably use bark as medium (the default), which will decompose. If it does, the roots will suffocate and the plant dies.

    I personally use LECA, since it won’t decay, but wouldn’t recommend it to you right now, because if you change the conditions too fast the whole whole root system will just die 🤷

    Semi-hydro is nice and something you can look into (for example, my plants only need watering every few weeks and flourish! I also don’t need to repot nearly as often), but the transition is stressful.

    Repotting is easy if you keep using a similar substrate (bark to bark).
    They don’t care if they are overpotted, you just need to freshen up the bark because there are lots of waste products in there.

    Look for high quality substrate (maybe online), since regular potting mix for orchids often sucks ass and will decay much faster than a proper one right away.

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
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    12 hours ago

    The comment in that thread pretty much says it all:

    You can cut the spikes (flower stems): you will get new, thicker ones that can support far more blooms. Cut them down to the base. The plant will spend the spring and summer growing big leaves, and you will get a great bloom on a new spike starting in late autumn. This is how presentation orchids of this variety are grown.

    You can try moving it into a larger container, but I find the roots to be way more sensitive than anything on the plant, so just be very gentle. Bark and Moss mix seems to be the general consensus and not just plain soil.

    • MountingSuspicion@reddthat.comOP
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      11 hours ago

      Thank you for your insight. I might try cutting just one to see how it goes. If it starts outgrowing its pot after I’ll try repotting and then I’ll at least know if they’ll start getting needy before I commit to repotting them all. Fingers crossed.