Question
I purchased what appears to be an extremely healthy phal about 2 weeks ago.  There are 7 healthy dark leaves, even the lowest show no discolor.  The primary spike has 4 healthy blooms, and a second spike has 2 mature buds and a third sprouting as well.  It is potted in a glass container in moss.  There is an abundance of thick, healthy roots, but my concern is that through the glass i can see one or two which are heavily rotted.  Is that small amount a risk to the entire plant, or is that normal die-off?  Should I pull the plant out and try to get rid of the rotted roots?

Answer
Fran, I would cut back on the watering until after flowering.  The sign of root rot is an indication that the plant needs to be repotted into a container with lots of drainage holes and fresh orchid potting mix. Moss compacts and disrupts the flow of air to the roots-- hence the rotting.  If you repot while the plant is in flower, that may disrupt the flowering.  Plan to repot immediately after flowering and cut back on the watering to reduce the spread of root rot in the interim.  Be sure to remove all rotted roots when you repot, repot into a plastic pot with lots of air holes in the base and use a fir based potting mix such as Better Gro or Schultz.