Stop...cutting ...things...off. Keep it in bright light but not direct sun. I soak the whole pot in water for 15 minutes and don’t water again for 10 days or so. Vents would be ok but you’ve disturbed it so much I’d let it be for now.

tj

Honestly, I'm surprised your orchid is even alive; the over watering by your husband alone should have done it in. I killed orchids by doing far less. However, I've kept one alive and healthy since last July, and it's even bloomed three times on the same stem. Guess I must be doing something right.

If the pictures are of the way your plant looks now, you probably have a good chance of saving it. It looks like it still has healthy roots, so all is not lost. Here is how I take care of my plant, after much trial and error. I only water it when the roots in the pot look whitish and the plastic pot feels very light. I water with distilled water with a small amount of orchid plant food mixed in per package directions. I water over the sink and let the water drain out, check to see if I missed any spots and add more water. It doesn't take much water to do it this way if you pour slowly. Leave it sitting in, or on the edge of the sink till it's completely drained. I was using the soaking method to water my orchids and they all died anyway, but this way seems to work better. (Don't get water down in the crown between the leaves. If you do, roll a paper towel into a point and try to get it all out.) I keep my orchid in bright indirect light next to my kitchen sink and it seems to be happy there.

I wouldn't bother cutting slits in the pot. Orchid Girl and others on Youtube say the slits are needed because orchid roots inside the pot need air, but mine is in a pot without slits and it's doing fine, so far. I don't know what else to tell you, except to tell your husband to keep his hands off your orchid : ) I hope this helps and your orchid lives and thrives !

Your plant is in large, chunky bark. This bark takes time and humidity before it holds water. I am assuming you are growing indoors in a dry, winter environment.

My recommendation for next year would be to purchase medium or small bark. You can mix in a small amount of sphagnum moss. All of this should be soaked for a few hours before repotting.

Leave your plant alone for this year. Give it more light without burning it's leaves. If you live in a northern climate, move it outside for spring and summer in partial shade, no direct sun. Leave it outdoors in Fall until the night temps reach 50 degrees for a consistent period. Phals need that temperature drop to initiate spiking. If you keep the plant indoors over summer, you must provide that temperature drop or you won't get spiking.

This is the time for growth. Your plant is making a new leaf which is what it should be doing. Fertilize lightly with a mix of tap water and distilled. Distilled water is not good alone because it contains no minerals. Fertilizer, unless it specifies it can be used with distilled or RO water will not work. There are fertilizers developed which will work with those waters, but you can save time using a mix of distilled, rain or RO water with a normal fertilizer.

The plastic pot is okay for winter growing. Watering should only be done when you stick your finger down into the bark and it feels dry or the pot feels very light. Phals like to be kept slightly moist, not wet!

Again, I feel you bark is too large but it will work for this year, if you check your watering. Large bark dries out quickly so you may have to water more often, especially if kept indoors. A/C removes humidity from the air as does central heating. If you move the plant outdoors for summer, it will not need as much watering because summer air contains humidity.

You have a good chance with this plant and I believe you can get it through spring/summer and see flowers this coming winter. Do cut off the old spike and let the plant spend energy on growing new leaves so you get nice flowers this winter.

Jane