I've been very neglectful towards my Orchid.....

I was given this a valentines day present a few years back from the OH and have never really known how to look after it. It's only flowered once and that was when it was given to me.





I have no idea what Orchid it is, how to water it, when to water it, how much light it should get etc. Currently it sits on the kitchen window sill and gets full sunlight in the morning.

I assume it needs repotting too, but what do I use to re pot it and do I use one of those special perforated pots?

 

It's a Phalaenopsis.

Looks like it could do with repotting. Use orchid bark with a small amount of perlite.
The dead withered roots need to be trimmed off at the same time.

I water my Phals twice a week in summer and once a week/10 days in winter.

 

Thanks for that.

What sort of light level should you give this variety of orchid?

 

I just drill a series of air holes in an ordinary plastic pot.

I fear that if the withered roots are trimmed all that will be left are the aerial roots. Ditch the cache pot that it's stood in, raise the humidity levels around it, and give those aerial roots a good misting (with some orchid feed in if you want) too. Resist the temptation to mist the leaves in its current state though.

 

I tend to agree in that it appears to have lost the part of the root system in the pot, but think there might be one or two still alive, unless the leaves are very limp.
A repot into new orchid compost, and removing all the dead roots might be a good idea.
The roots are very brittle, so be careful.

I've never used the clear pots or any other kind of specialist pot for these, I find they grow ok in normal pots, although I must admit overwatering is the usual reason for root rot.
Good bright indirect sunlight is best, and not below 10C at the lowest.
Max up to 30C with humidity.

 

Take the plant out of the soil and pour some water over all the roots. The ones that go green are alive. The ones that don't are dead and can be cut off.