Question
I have a Phala which is 3 yrs old and bloomed for 18 mos then finished up, We cut it back and it the new spike came out and many buds. Recently the new buds stopped growing turned yellow and one has dropped off. Now I noticed the green leaves have started to wilt, lost sheen and becoming soft. it sits in an east window. The only plants near it are African Violets, and they have been there for the duration. Has it been over watered or has a disease moved in? The recent change in green leaves have us concerned. What should we do?

Answer
Eric, I recommend that you repot the plant.  It should be repotted in fresh orchid potting mix after each bloom period.  When you have a supply of fresh orchid potting mix, unpot your plant and rinse off the roots.  You will probably notice some mushy roots.  These are dead and should be removed.  These dead roots are most likely the cause both of bud and leaf wilt as the roots serving them can no longer provide the needed nutrients.  Be sure to soak the fresh orchid potting mix thoroughly before use as it contains fir bark which repels water in its dry form.  Be sure to repot to a pot with lots of drainage holes.  If you have had to remove several roots, you may be able to repot back to the same pot if it has good drainage. After repotting in fresh potting mix, you may resume weekly feeding with a weak fertilizer solution (eg 1/4 tsp per gallon of water).  You may lose the rest of the buds and any yellowing leaves in the process as you have disturbed the root zone.  Better to repot now than to risk losing the entire plant to root rot.

If all of the roots are healthy, then we will need to look for another cause. However, almost all cases of leaf and buds wilt can be traced to root problems.