Hard to say, though your mix looks a bit arid. I'm using a mix of 50% treated pine bark and 50% perlite. Your Phal should start growing new roots as the weather warms up.

Here are the American Orchid Society Culture notes.

Recommended temperature range not below 16C, and not above 32C

AOS Phalaenopsis Notes

I've tended to have all my orchids in in a plain orchid bark mix as I've been so worried about root rot. Will experiment with other mixes. I tried to buy perlite recently and didn't have much luck. I guess I was worried it might be a fungal infection or maybe root burn from the controlled release fertiliser previously used. Might have been getting slightly cooler than 15 at night but that won't be for much longer.

Thanks!!! Will wait and see how it grows. I really don't want to lose it. Made the mistake of going for amazing flowers but not very healthy plant when I bought it. Will not do that again.

Sometimes the roots don't take off when the plant isn't in top form. It looks pretty good to me. If it's spring where you are, you'll get more successful ones as the season continues.

I tried to photograph one phal I have with a number of "false start" root bumps on it that look exactly like yours ... but that part of the stem has since been completely covered over by healthy roots!

Can you remove the spike? It should give more energy to the plant to grow roots and leaves. Since you are heading into Spring, the higher light and warmth should spur growth. I was always taught cinnamon inhibits root growth and should only be used on leaves or stems which show signs of fungal/bacterial infection, never on roots.

Jane

I can remove the spike... It makes sense. Had been reluctant to do so as I've had trouble getting my orchids to flower. I haven't used cinnamon on the areas I have photographed. Used it on the infected roots I had to cut away. Some were brown squishy and were growing mould. I hadn't heard about cinnamon inhibiting root growth!! Exactly the opposite of what I want to achieve. Will sit tight and wait for some growth then and not interfere too much with it.

I had wondered if it needed to be treated with a fungicide. Also had read brown tips could be a sign of toxicity and over fertilising so have not been giving it any fertiliser either. Also confused if moth orchids prefer to dry out completely or be slightly damp. I have seen conflicting information on this. Many thanks everyone!!!

As far as your last question, you really have to use your judgement about watering. I grew Phals in NY for many years. You really learn by mistakes as to what works under your growing conditions. If your room is cool you want to water when dry. If it is warm and well lit, you can wait until the media is damp.

When I grew indoors in NY, I always potted my Phals in small bark with sphag mixed in. My growing conditions were very dry over the winter. My growing space was cool/cold over winter. I had problems with crown rot and dehydrated roots. I put a pad of sphag over the surface to hold some moisture. I removed that in Spring.

Without knowing your conditions, I would advise you to wait for the weather to warm with extended daylight hours. Sometimes you just have to keep the plant alive until better conditions. I would suspect that is what is happening to your plant. I have always been a strong believer that light trumps all. If you plant is well lit it will survive the negative conditions.

You seek growth which should be happening soon. I wouldn't repot again. I would wait until you see some new root growth and then repot with a little sphag mixed in the bark. You don't need perlite. Just continue to give it good light and warmth, if possible.

Jane

Yaaay!! The black bits decided to start growing. I'm so pleased. Thanks everyone for all the advice and support.

Good job!

Jane