The crown looks a little rotten - I would soak in a fungicidal solution (physan20 works great) and something with a rooting stimulant (superthrive is recommended by some people) and then put it in a zip lock bag with some sphagnum moss. Put in a warm place with a bit of diffuse sunlight and hope for the best!

Just wondering, did you ever repot the plant (not counting this time)? Orchid media, especially bark, breaks down over time, and can suffocate and damage the roots. It takes 1-2 yrs to break down. Normally orchids are repotted in the spring when new roots show up.

It looks like the roots are rotted. Phals get root rot pretty easily if you're not careful (I think I killed my first phal, so I know the feeling). But I don't mean to discourage you! I had another phal that fully recovered and even bloomed. It looks like the leaves aren't too wrinkled, which is good. Yours still might have some hope--it still has five roots. As said above, just treat with fungicide and don't keep it "too" wet (don't want crown rot too). Wish you best of luck!

Orchid mixes are very tricky, because every brand will sell itself as the best, and every good grower will suggest a different mix. The mix must fit your conditions and more importantly your watering habits. I suck at watering, so I put things in pure sphagnum/coconut which holds water for longer. Everything dies in bark for me.

Not sure if root stimulating powder works - my experiences with it have not been good because the powder is not water soluble. Some people try soaking the roots in sugar water (1 tbspn / litre) to help. Not sure if this actually works.

The point is, you can either pull the plant out of the pot and put it in a bag with some moist sphagnum moss and hope that the warm humid conditions will help new roots grow. Or, you can leave it in the pot it is in right now, water by soaking (allowing the bark to get nearly completely dry all the way through) and hope new roots grow. However, this may be a bit too much trouble to save a plant. Any chance you can get a replacement easily? Even the best growers have problems rerooting plants on the decline, especially if you live somewhere that doesn't have nice buoyant warm breezes and soft warm rain showers (aka not canada)

3/4 cup sugar
1 finely crushed vitamin (Centrum)
1/2 tsp epsom salt
1/2 - 1 tsp dishwashing soap
Mix all togather submerge plant & all for 4 hrs. drain, Dip towel in solution then wring out till just damp. Wrap plant in towel and place in a warm place overnight. Remove from towel, rinse with tepid water, to remove resdue sugar. Replant.

As I said I haven't tried it but if one of my plants as unwell would.

Kathy in Cold Manitoba!

Good luck!

Ok I am really bad on watering like Calvin. I grow my phals in straight spaghnum moss(fresh spaghnum has a antibacterial quality, added bonus).By "fresh Spaghnum" I mean the stuff you just took out of the bag,It hasn't been watered repeatedly over the last year. You get an added boost from the spagh,it initiates new root growth. I have tried the "spagh in a bag" method it failed miserably for me. I pot my phals up in straight spaghnum that is the correct size for the roots,that means even if the leaves are big the pot must be smaller if you don't have that many roots. I soak my moss for awhile(until it feels good and wet,it usually only takes a hour). Then I squeeze it out before I put it in the pot. I would put granite chips in the bottom of the pot to give it weight. If you can anchor the plant into place with like hair pins or a pot clip,that always helps the plant. If you want to increase the humidity put a big zip-lock bag over the top of it,Like a tent. If I were you I think I might put a heating pad on low under the pot too. All my plants are in their light garden in the basement on heating pads. The pads make them very happy in the chilly basement.
Kathy's vitamin treatment seems like it might help,I don't know how well the vitamins will be picked up since they're made for human consumption not plant consumption;but it's worth a try. Hope my take on it helps.Ginnibug

As Gin mentioned squeeze the moss after soaking until it feels like a moist/damp sponge, not sopping wet.

One other thing, if all you can find is the garden fungicide try it. See if you can find the 3-1 fungicide and bug control. You can also dust any trimming that you need to do with cinnamon,it has certain beneficial qualities.

At some point you'll just have to break down and order your other needs online.

So far the orchid is treated and sitting in the ziploc to recover. I check it everyday and have not seen anything worse than it was before. I hope it will be okay.

Good night!

Jann from Windsor, Ontario where is -2 today

Brooke