Question
I had a beautiful phalaenopsis orchid, but while she was cleaning, my roommate put it on the radiator...and basically it cooked. Luckily it wasn't on there too long.  The stem is still green and healthy and actually, it's got 2 new spikes coming out of the nodes.  One spike has 3 full, firm buds on it, and the second has 4 already with more on the way.  
However, 3 of the 4 leaves are brown and wilted in areas.  I read somewhere that I probably should have cut the stems down to the base because of the energy that the new spikes and buds suck from the wilted leaves, but I can't help it, I'm dying to see it flower!!
If the stems are so healthy, is it really necessary to cut them?  Can I wait until after the orchid flowers again before I cut the stem?  Thanks for the help!  

Answer
Hello Jessica,

Well, you have some choices to make: allow the spikes to flower or cut them off.  

Allowing the spikes to flower does take quite a bit of the phalaenopsis' energies and with the leaves already stressed from being put on the radiator, they will continue to decline in health.  While the buds may all open eventually, the plant may not survive the ordeal.  

Cutting them off now would give it the best chance for survival but even that may be touch and go for a while.  The wilted leaves may not plump up again but they are not dead - yet.  Phalaenopsis use their leaves to store nutrients and water to sustain it while producing flowers and for short periods of drought.  Even though they may be wilted, they still can help keep it alive.  

There is a third choice that is between the two above, cutting off the spike with four buds and leaving the one with three.  This way you will be able to see the flowers and allow the phal to start the recovery process, although slower than if both were cut off.  Once the buds have all opened, cut off the spike and put it in a bud vase with water.  You can enjoy the flowers while allowing the phal to recover.  The flowers can last for several weeks in the vase if you change the water daily.  

If all goes well, you should see a new leaf emerge from the top or crown of the phal.  Keep up with the care and eventually the wilted leaves will fall off one by one naturally as they are replaced by new healthy leaves.  

Hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.