orchid care

[Tink]

I have this last year or so been given 3 indoor orchids. One has been flowering for 18 months. The other since May. They are in small original pots and look very potbound. The third one has now stopped and just bare stems. Is it ok to cut back this one and re-pot? Should I buy specific compost.
I have fed them all with Orchid food.
Do I use rainwater and how often?
Any general advice please - thanks

[Homemade]

Cut off the old flower stalk.
Repot in forest bark rather than buying expensive orchid compost.
Only use a slightly bigger pot, they don't want too much space.
Use rainwater for every watering if you can but it is not critical.

[wendy]

I dont know about the cutting back bit.
But when I asked about repotting, the guy said just use the dead stuff under the conifer and it has worked on one of mine

[Tink]

OK Will have a go this week,many thanks

[Bollybarb]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150413768738523&l=ca595908ab
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150413770118523&l=220a56c5a7

This is my 3yr old orchid, never been re potted watered with tap water and fed occasionally with baby bio. you can see where previous flower stems have been cut back (short white stick things!)

But before you cut the stalk back just check there are no buds swelling further down the stem, because the stem can have numerous flowerings just a little bit shorter each time. Hope this helps x