I inherited a small orchid plant from my aunt. I have never grown any before but it seems really happy where I have it. When I got it this summer it was just at the top of the post. Now it has snaked down. It keeps growing buds and flowers. It looks like it is trying to escape though with tentacles and water doesn’t seem to go anywhere when I water it about once a week. It just pools in the pot. Do I repot it? Do anything? I’m afraid to disturb it. Advice?
A friend told me…put three ice cubes in the plant once a week…and that’s it. I’ve done that with my orchid and it doesn’t get overwatered.
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That’s a phalaenopsis orchid. They like indirect bright sunlight. They should be thoroughly watered and allowed to completely dry out between waterings. Do not let water sit or pool in the pot - the best way to water a typical orchid is to just stick it under the tap in the sink and let the water flush all the way through, then allow to drain thoroughly. Let it set a week or so between waterings so the roots get completely dry.
Some roots climbing outside the pot is fine. When you have a lot of roots outside that’s a sign to repot. Misting the leaves and outside roots regularly with a spray bottle is good for a dry climate. If your pot doesn’t have holes in the bottom then you should repot it in one that does.
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Forgot to mention that this species should give you 1-2 new leaves per year at the top. Older leaves at the bottom will turn yellow and fall off, so don’t freak out when they do.
I don’t recall this species being a heavy feeder, so the “weekly weakly” mantra for orchids probably applies. Ideally that means a weak dose of fertilizer weekly. I was never that conscientious when I was collecting (I had around 100 orchids at one point) so I just fertilized monthly.
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Thanks so much @anomander for the info and advice. Do they quit budding and stop getting longer or should I find a taller support?
The flower spikes will eventually stop producing buds and flowers. When that happens generally you should cut them off. They should grow a new spike when a new leaf comes along.
Some orchids will keep going for quite a while with flowers on the spikes, others will bloom quickly and be done. You’ll have to get a sense of that with your new orchid, but it sounds healthy and happy if it’s continuing to flower.
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Yes to all what @anomander said. 
I am not familiar with the specific type of orchid that you have. I do have several orchids and two of them are blooming right now (another was blooming two weeks ago). One is an orchid that I bought in 1989 (in the airport on the way home from Hawaii) so apparently I am at least able to keep them alive for a while.
Many, probably most orchids grow in something like “orchid bark” which is really just big chunks of bark. The water runs right through. I water them once per day over a sink, dump a lot of water through them, and just let the water run down the drain. Of course this means that they are in a pot that has holes in the bottom.
After a while either the bark starts to decompose or the orchid roots start to decompose, and this results in the orchid being in something that starts to resemble soil, which rots the roots. Hopefully before this happens I repot the orchid in fresh orchid bark, while trying to strip away some of the rot. I repot each orchid probably once per year or once per two years.
I was told to fertilize “weakly weekly”. Thus once per week, or slightly less, I use a very weak solution of fertilizer.
My various orchids seem to vary in terms of how often they like to be watered. One needs to be watered daily when it is about to set a flower – otherwise the flower dries out and falls off. The others do not seem to be nearly as fussy and three of my orchids bloom perhaps half the time without being fussy at all regarding care.
Some varieties seem to bloom much more easily than other varieties.
I fertilize my orchids with a plumeria bloom fertilizer once in a while.
I put my orchids in a bowl of water and let them soak. I want the ‘roots’ to turn nice and green. The orchid ‘bark’ that you can buy absorbs water and is gently released so by soaking the plant the wood chips absorb water. I feed mine intermittently. I only water when the roots no longer look green.
As another poster has said once it has finished flowering cut the flower stems down. Some say 3" - I find that a bit unsightly. Once cut down is when I might think about re-potting just into the next size plastic orchid pot. If you do this check the root system. Sometimes there is still a small square-shaped clump right in the middle. This will have been the original cutting root. Tease out any old ‘soil/bark’ before giving it the soak. Then repot.
Mine are in the bathroom on a wide window ledge with diffused light from the opaque window.
There is always one or two in flower all year round. It makes my daily ablutions a pleasure
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This is true and works beautifully for me! I’m fact I just saw it on instructions for a Trader Joe’s orchid
I’ll add that I live in Arizona. When rain is in the forecast (rare!) I’ll put my orchids outside and let them get rained on. They seem to really like that. Otherwise I do what others have already suggested. When I water I fill the pot and let the bark absorb water until the water level goes down. Then I pull the plastic liner out of the pot and let the water run out, empty the the pot of excess water, and put the liner back in. I do that about once a week. I tried repotting once but the orchids died. I think I had already waited way way too long and they were on their way out anyway.
I could use your help here (I do NOT have a green thumb). This orchid was a gift last February. It bloomed for a while then fell off. I understand it can bloom again?
I have not cut it down, although one friend told me I should do that. I water it sparingly once a week, or pick it up and “rinse” it good and put back. Or use a spray bottle and wet it. (I keep the “water weekly, weakly” mantra in my head all the time)
Should I cut it down? Will it bloom again?
Orchid pros correct me if I’m wrong, but it takes a year for a TJ orchid to bloom again. My hack is inserting a good artificial stem (you really can’t tell the difference!) and waiting it out.
I’m a fan of the ice cube watering.
@surfcity It should certainly be cut down and probably repotted.
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I’d definitely cut it down and as @aMacMom says then would be a good time to re-pot though I do like the look of the square pot. You can buy feed though I have tried cold black tea!
My orchids definitely have long spells not flowering. One I got for my birthday in July 2020 - flowered till Jan 2021. It was in full bloom when I got it of course. It started flowering again in November and is now back in full bloom. That’s why I have so many but I have to admit I have not bought one! First one was a leaving gift as I don’t drink or eat chocolate and they were at a lost as to what to buy me. Actually I was really disappointed with it - what do I want one of those for!! Then I was gifted three rather magnificence specimens which needed a new home. Then people see them and and keep buying them for me. I love them now as it means I’ve always go one or two in flower. Superb 