That's new root.

Your bark looks very dry. What was it potted in before?

It was potted in coir or something i think..im notbreally sure..whatever it was in when i got it...new root is good right? Do i need to do anything?

Ok i will do that. I was scared to water too much cause it was so rotted....

Is there a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot? How are you water watering it?

tj

yes theres a drainage hole, its actually a terracotta pot that i glued rocks onto....i just pour water on tge bark till it comes out the hole

Watering is the big problem in orchid growing. Those thick leaves store water!

Watering interval?

Depends on your growing conditions.... Temperature, humidity and air movement.

The potting mixture.

Lava Rocks or no mixture i.e. mounted on cork or similar. Frequent watering.

Sphagnum moss. Infrequent watering!

No simple answer! If you describe where you have the plant in some detail the indoor growers might be able to give you detailed help. The new root is a good sign.

New root is a good sign! For your zone I'd think about setting it a bit deeper in the pot, and rather than pouring the water through until it comes out the bottom, either set it in the sink and let the water go through it for a minute or so, or immerse the entire pot in a bowl of water for 10-20 minutes. Both things will allow for the bark so absorb the water and then provide the humidity the roots need once all the water has been drained out. It's hard to say how often to do this without knowing how fast the bark dries out, but at least once a week through the winter. I would not consider lava rock or mounting. Similarly, humidity in WA may get too high for sphagnum moss, leading to rot again. Good luck!

I know it's unconventional, but I would pull it out of the pot and snap off half of that dry bottom section and repot it more deeply. The root says it wants to live, although it will be a year or two before it starts to look decent. I would nurse it though!

I'm no orchid expert but any type of new growth on any plant is always a good sign. :-)

Good luck!