Question
I have a Phalaenopsis orchid that tried to die, It had root rot of some sort. I took it out of the pot, cleaned rotted roots and repotted it, but the center of the plant degenerated until the inside came out. One large leaf was still intact. I just left it alone, and it never really died. The leaf is still there and green, not shiny, but it has been about 3 years since it almost died. It also has one above the soil root(and a large one) that is still growing. Is there something I could do to encourage a new plant to grow? I can't believe that thing stayed alive.
Thanks

Answer
JoAnne, it sounds as if it has been a couple of years since you last looked at the roots and repotted it.  Excuse the pun but roots may be at the root of the matter.  You need to once again remove the plant from its pot and see if you have some good (not rotted but firm) roots.  If you have some heaalthy roots, the next issue is whether you still have a growing point where leaves originate.  I'm concerned about that because of you comment about "the center of the plant degenerated". It is possible to have healthy roots but if there is no meristemmatic (ie. growth point tissue from which new leaves are produced) tissue, no new leaf growth is possible. Here are some suggestions; 1) unpot the plant and remove any dead root tissue, 2) soak the entire plant in room temperature water for an hour, 3) repot the plant in fresh orchid potting mix-- carefully tucking the aerial root into the potting mix (the soaking should help make the aerial root more pliable so there is less chance of it breaking during repotting). Do this in a morning to allow the entire plant to dry before nightfall, 4) locate a plant hormone paste at a local garden center and spread it in the area from which you would like new leaf growth. You can make a paste from rootone powder if they have that.  Place the plant in an east window if you have one.  It will want to be kept on the warm side.  I suspect the only reason you have kept the leaf is that there is enough healthy root to nourish it.  Given my understanding of your description I'm not real optimistic about the plant's ultimate chances, but, if you are the nourishing type of person, you will give it another year or more before abandoning it.