Yes that is exactly what it is doing. Some phal can remain blooming from the same spike for years. Some people perfer to cut old spikes so they will not rebloom from older spikes. This gives the plant time to use its energy for plant growth and the new pikes are bigger. The choise on what to do is entirely up to the grower.

T-bred 12-13 hours is not enough run time with tubes. 14 minimum, 16 better. With Phals, I completely ignore the increase and decrease run times for lights. Temp drops cue them to spike but day length is not a critical factor with the average phal. The 42w's: Your plant in unacclimated to light I would start at 3-4 feet and watch it daily. As the plant acclimates get it closer. I grow inches from 42's and 85's. If you are going to use the 42w with the tubes, shoot the 42 in from the sides or the front. Set the plant the farthest away you can. Every 2 weeks move it a bit closer to the 42w. 2 weeks is a fast track acclimation. Keep the water in balance. You should see the plant getting dryer faster. If you see it reacting, back it off and wait another week. Violet leaves may happen with new growth. They will green up as they grow out. You want to watch for burn. Old bottom leaves may drop too. Don't worry Mehitabel is the "Phal Goddess" of GW. However, there is always 1 area of respectful disagreement; Repotting. Plants that are not doing their best should not be re-potted IMO. To ask a plant in spike to devote energy to re-establishing is a lot, when growing indoors, IMO. I've tried it both ways. Even if the media is bad, I'd rather leave it alone and repot it after it's done blooming. I usually do a repot after bloom and when the 1st new leaf is growing out. If your plant is growing roots, then I promise that it is simply underlight/under-heated. You are not providing enough energy for the plant to continue it's spike. Spiking takes a lot of energy. A Media change will not cure that. I've seen phals with no media bloom a cascade of 20 flowers. Media is a water delivery system only. Your Neighbour, Clara PS How is your Oncid? The bet is still on!. :-) BTW I brought my "Ortho's" in. One is having a small reaction to the increased heat. I had to bottom rack it to keep it cooler. I open the window at night too.

Tanie, you have to join Home Depot's Garden Club to get the coupons. They send different ones through the year. Summer 2012 I got one for buy two hostas, get one free. I don't know if they will still send one if you join now or not - but if you want to try, the link is below. I think. I've never added a link to GW, so I hope it works. We'll see. I added two new phals today. I got some photos before they drop the buds. It isn't very cold out today, so I'm hoping they won't, but they had to ride in my Jeep for a couple of hours. If they do it's okay. The roots and leaves are really healthy. Here is a link that might be useful: Home Depot Garden Club

Really those small phals will have shorter spikes so staking I don't think is really necessary. Should you choose to do it, though, you can start as soon as the spike is long enough to be able to be bent and tied to the stake. Maybe 3ish inches long? Play with it.