Question
My secretary had an orchid plant sitting on a bookshelf, neglected for I don't know how long.  I am trying to rescue it.  The flower stem is only green for about 6 inches, at which point it turns brown and crunchy the rest of the way up.  Most of the leaves are green, a couple underneath are brown and dead.  I took the plant from her, cut off the brown part of the stem leaving about an inch of brown(to be conservative, it could still be alive under there for all I know).  For the past 2 weeks I have been watering it once a week.  I also put it by the window on my desk.  I'm not sure what it is potted in, I think she received it as a gift.  Should I repot it?  Is it going to survive?  By the way, I can't tell what type of orchid it is.  It has 3 large leaves at the bottom drooping over the pot and one tall stem.

Answer
Hello Jasmine,

From your description of the orchid plant, it sounds like it may be a phalaenopsis.  Under that assumption, here are some things I'd suggest.

You did the right thing by cutting off the dead top part of the flower stem but I'd suggest cutting the rest of it off because there are only 3 leaves left on it.  If you leave the stem as is, it may attempt to produce a secondary or branch stem and then flowers.  As long as the stem is green, it is still alive.  All of this takes quite a bit of the orchid plants energies, energies it could use to get back to growing healthy again.  You noted that the leaves are somewhat droopy, that is one indication that it is under stress.  

To help it regain some health, place it where it will receive bright indirect sunlight, temperatures between 60F to 85F, humidity above 50% along with a little gentle air movement around it.  Water when the potting mix becomes barely moist, if the mix is kept too wet it will cause the roots to rot.  

Repotting would be a good idea as most phalaenopsis love being repotted annually.  

Hope this answered your questions.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.