thanks arthur, TLC is a little vague...does it need more or less sun? should I trim the roots?

Just be careful not to sunburn the leaves. They can take some morning sun, but acclimate it to a sunny spot gradually. Feel the leaves , they should never feel hot!! If you have a window with a sheer curtain, that might be better. Like Arthur said , the plant looks OK. You've done good with just giving it a little TLC. There is lots of good info on culture for phalaenopsis on this site and on the web. It will want to stay moist, but not wet. You can feed it once a week with a 1/4 - 1/2 strength plant food.

thank you sheila, I have some left over orchid food...will need to read up a little more on them..hopefully I'll be able to generate some new growth..

Jeremy, I would get it out of the moss potting medium (although that is probably what saved it). Don't trim any roots unless they are dead-no green tissue inside at all. If roots are partially dead, cut them back to live green tissue. (all cuts with sterile razor sharp blade) Get a pot with lots of drainage holes that will hold the roots comfortably. Get orchid bark mix from a "plant" store of some sort, wet the bark thoroughly and fill the pot with that to steady the plant.

If you have had to cut any roots, or any are broken but still attached to the plant (there's a tough central stem in the roots that is like a tough string - If there is live tissue below the break, don't worry, pot it). Put the pot in a bright location - no direct light yet - and allow the pot to again get completely dry (this allows root wounds to heal without rotting -probably about a week - You can mist the plant/top of potting mix lightly during this time ) Then start soaking the plant and allowing it to become almost dry before watering again. First full watering, I would fertilize lightly....maybe 1/4 strength water soluble. Good info above from Arthurm & Sheila above. Then normal culture for a Phalaenopsis.

I see one thing in photo #2 that is worrysome.....It appears that there may be a dead leaf in the crown of the plant.....If there is damage to the crown (the growing top of the plant) be very careful with water there. If it was rot or fungus that has dried up there, wetting could very well start it again.

If there is dead tissue there, and the crown is dead, the plant will either form a second crown and put up another new leaf from the crown, and be ok, or it may throw a new baby plant from some point along the main stem. You just do not want to have a rot or fungus start in that crown.....I would put some dry fungicide down in there just in case. Just sprinkle the powder down in the crown, and be wary of water getting in there.

Bill

You are in zone 9. Just put the plant outside in a shady/bright area. Water well until it drains out. Do not let it sit in water. Do not mist!!

Give the plant a summer vacation outdoors. If your plant lost the center leaf in the crown, the plant might send up a baby plant. The sphag in the pot looks fine as long as you don't keep it too wet. It probably saved the plant during neglect. Fertilize 1/2 strength each watering.

Jane

Thanks for all of the good information..

For clarification sake, this plant is indoors, Jane, you recommend I put it outside and leave it in the sphag, Bill suggests putting it in bark...I'm confused...which it better, or is it just a matter of preference? I have sphag, but would have to go buy bark...

what is the proper method for watering in the sphag? do I remove it from the pot,thoroughly soak it and then let it dry out until the next watering?

Just want to make sure I'm doing everything right, really don't want another dead orchid on my hands..

here's another picture of the crown..seems like it's ok..

Jeremy, Its not a matter of either of us being "right", or "wrong". I know its confusing, but either way works.

Here is the rationale behind my suggestion:

Sphagnum Moss is usually difficult for new growers to deal with because it holds a great deal of water for a long time, and new growers have a tendency to over water and cause root rot in their plants in sphagnum..

My thought was that IF the previous owner had been overwatering, and started a root rot problem in the pot, then allowed to pot to go dry and the problem was arrested, you have no way to know this without looking in the pot. If you remove the plant from the pot and find dead black husks in the center of the root ball where there were once roots, you can remove them, treat the roots with a fungicide, and stand a good chance of eliminating the problem. If you put the plant/pot on a regular watering schedule with a rot problem in the pot, it may start up again, and you not know about it until too late.

Now, as far as the potting mix is concerned, Its your choice.....All my growing career, I used, and was associated with growers who used Fir Bark as the primary ingredient in orchid mixes. Its what I am most familiar with, so is the one I recommend for most orchid "potting". (we don't pot all orchids).

I have said this a number of times in different posts here on GW, and other places, but must admit that I don't add the "disclaimer" every time I post. I am not trying to tell you what to do, I am trying to make suggestions, or tell folks what I would do under that set of circumstances. Maybe the best way to handle the situation is to say something like "here is what I would do in your situation", at the beginning of each of my posts. I'm no longer the y'ungun I used to be, so I'll only commit to trying to remember that each time I post.

I've been kicking around in the orchid community in one capacity or another since about 1966 or so, so have see a lot, but have not seen it all yet, and don't believe I ever will. to me, It is fun trying to help folks with growing problems, and that is my intent.

Yes, your last photo shows what looks like mechanical damage to the base of the newest leaf. The other angle made that look like it might have been a newly emerging leaf that had died, and I thought that was reason for concern.

Hope this helps.

Bill

Bill is correct. We all have different preferences regarding potting our plants. I'm not a big fan of sphag but do add it to any bark mix. I even add it to a rock mix. My reason is due to my watering habits. I'm a poor waterer. I have a lot of plants and most get quite dry before I water again.

If you have a heavy hand with the watering can, use bark. I have found that Phals like sphag and I have gotten good growth and less root problems using a mix of bark/sphag. It is up to you.

At this time of the year (Spring), the plant will be making new growth and roots. Your plant appears dry and I doubt you will find any soggy, rotten roots. If anything, they are probably dehydrated which is why I said you could leave it in the sphag. If you want to repot, buy a small bag of orchid bark and mix it with some fresh sphag.

I always soak my bark and sphag before using. I wet the sphag and rinse it out under a hose. I rinse the bark in a colander to remove all the dust. I soak my bark for a few hours so it takes up some moisture. Sometimes I will add large perlite for additional aeration.

In zone 9, the weather is warm/hot. Light is strong. Your Phal will grow better outside. If you have a porch, leave it there. Mine grow on my patio and only get early morning direct sun. They grow well there. I have friends who grow their Phals on trees and they grow and flower well.

You need to think about what growing conditions you can provide. If you have to grow indoors, they will grow well there also as long as the window is bright. You need to watch your watering as these plants grow attached to trees and have lots of air around their roots. When you grow in a pot, you try to mimic their natural habitat. So, no overwatering. Water and let the plant go almost dry before watering again.

There is a lot of information on line and I'll provide a link to the American Orchid Society. You could join a local orchid club in your area and get lots of helpful info and meet other orchid growers in your area. A great way to learn and get more plants.

Its not rocket science. You learn from your mistakes and keep moving forward. Orchids are terribly addictive and challenging. If it dies, you get yourself another and try again!

Jane

http://aos.org/Default.aspx?id=204

You guys are great..Feel like I have a much better handle on things..Going to take it home and remove the sphag, check the roots and then re-pot with a mixture of sphag and bark..Was hoping I'd be able to keep it in my office, but it sounds like the best place is outside on our porch..

Bring it to your office when it blooms again this winter. That's what I always did. I always carried my bloomers to work.

Let them do their growing and strengthen at home on a sunny porch. You'll get the best blooms that way.

Good luck,
Jane

after removing the old moss, this is what I found. There were actually two orchids that had been in this pot, the one was completely dead. The roots of the surviving one were in pretty rough shape..a lot of rot, so it was clearly over-watered at some point. so, I trimmed them up and re-potted in a mixture of sphag and bark.

But there are still some good looking roots..

after re-potting and just sitting out on my porch in the shade for the last several days, there is a new leaf popping up....Feeling more confident that this guy will make it...

update..the mix had pretty well dried out, but the phal definitely seems to be responding well to it's new home outside..gave it a good watering the other day and I could see that some of the roots were greening up..you can also see how much more the new leaf is growing..

Checking on orchid today, I found something interesting...this guy was making himself comfortable amongst the bark...

Anyway, the new leaf continues to grow. You can see how much larger it is in comparison to the last time..watered yesterday with fertilizer and noticed this growth at the end of one of the roots..I'm hoping that's a good sign..

It looks fine.....but it is summer there and it should look fine. When to bring it inside is going to be your next "Problem" .

Thank goodness I only have to worry about 7 Phals in the indoor/outdoor shuffle.

Looks good. I'm in Sarasota and leave my Phals out all year. Unless the temps get under 40 F at night, they stay out. So far I have not brought them in but have moved them closer to the house for a bit of protection. Not sure about Jacksonville, you might have to take them in at night if the temps drop too low.

Plant looks happy and healthy. You should get spikes this fall. You've done everything right!

Congrats!!

Jane

Thanks..I was encouraged by the fact that the roots seem to be doing much better..as far as bringing it inside, my guess is we won't hit the 40's until December, so I've got some time...

Time for my weekly update..it's pretty cool to see how well the phal is doing outside..this is the latest picture..There is the start of a new leaf, and if you look closely just behind where I cut off the dead spike, you can see a new root forming..