They could be dehydrated. Not sure from the picture. If you spray those visible roots, do they green up? Not sure where you live, zone 8? Give a bit more info.please.

Phals like warmth and some humidity. Air conditioning is very drying. The bark looks very dry. I always added some sphagnum moss to bark to help retain some moisture.

With limited information, I would suggest soaking the plant, stick the whole pot in a bucket of water and let it soak a few hours to hydrate the bark. Until the bark holds more moisture, I'd suggest doing that again in a few weeks.

You will get the 'feel' when the bark is taking some water. At that point you can resume watering normally. My guess is the plant is dehydrated because of the AC and bark.

Jane

Let me make one suggestion before you try Jane's suggestion. Stick your finger down deep into the potting mix and see what it feels like down in the center of the pot. If it feels damp and mushy, then jerk it out of the pot and check the roots. If it feels dry and the bark feels solid, then do as Jane suggests.

I have seen Phals with severe root rot and the bark on top of the pot look perfectly good......and it was my plant, sad to say.......

Bill

As Bill said, it's entirely possible there's a nightmare hiding under the bark, but from the outside, the bark, the leaves, and the roots look very very dry, and in need of a long soak. Maybe you're following an "every 7 days" routine? My phals live in a very bright, very dry, overly air-conditioned office. They get surface-spritzed almost daily, and full soaking watering in the sink twice a week. That would kill orchids in other environments, but it's what keeps them happy here.

thanks everyone. I am soaking them now, I think they must be DRY. Could feel nothing down in the bark except DRY bark. I'll try to do better, I love these guys. I'm glad I found this website late last night!

Alice

It could take a few days in the damp bark to bounce back, so be patient with it. Orchids seem to do everything at a glacial pace. A bottom leave may yellow and fall off ... still okay. Even if the older leaves never fully plump up again, once you get the watering balance right, you'll see each new leaf come in flat and shiny.

Monday a coworker gave me a pair of orchids stuffed in a small pot with tons of moss (it was a gift, and now that the flowers have finished, he doesn't want it). I've separated them into their own pots with bark. I guess I didn't soak the new bark enough when I first repotted, because they, too, began to look more dehydrated! I've just finished soaking the pots for 30 minutes ... here's hoping Monday brings more perked up orchids!

actually I did soak the bark overnight before I repotted this Phals into it, but I need to water, obviously, more that I have been. Alice

A quick thumb rule that helps a lot of folks determine when to water.....

This works best in a clay pot, but you can do it in any pot.

When you first pick the pot up, pick it up with both hands, and "heft" it like you were going to toss it into the air. If the pot initially feels cool and heavy, its wet, don't water......If it initially feels warm, or room temperature, and light, give it a good drink. It saves poking things like fingers and such into the pot.

That might help.

Bill