Question
I received an orchid (my favorite flower)for my 18th birthday from my fiance and i brought it to Cali the and never really got a chance to live before it started dieing. it had four different flowers and they all eventually fell off one by one and now half the stem is completely rotten. I feel terrible because that was the one thing that someone ever really put thought towards something for me. Please help me...

Answer
Brittany, if you have a phalaenopsis orchid and if you still have healthy leaves and roots, the plant can probably be saved.  Understand that, with a phalaenopsis orchid, death of the flowers and the flower spike does not meaan the plant is dying.  As long as the plant itself is healthy, it can reflower annually. Cut off the old flower spike as it will not reflower anyway.  Next, find some orchid potting mix (Many garden centers carry this including home improvement stores such as Lowes or Home Depot).  You will need to repot your plant in this special potting mix in a plastic pot with lots of drainage holes in the bottom.  Soak the new orchid potting mix prior to use.  Unpot your plant, discard the old potting mix, and rinse off the roots.  Cut off any roots that are mushy as these are dead.  Healthy orchid roots are firm and will turn green when wet.  Repot your plant into the fresh orchid potting mix and water once per week.  By repotting in this manner, the plant should grow new roots and leaves and should reflower next year about this time. They prefer to be grown in an east window where they can receive some morning sunshine.  Orchids can live on and reflower for years so it should be a constant reminder of the special gift you have received.  To maintain your plant, do this repotting each time it has finished flowering