Question
Hi Jim,

I have been reading the messages on this board for a month or so now and
have been trying to follow all the advice.  I have a Phal that I bought at IKEA
(not sure how great an idea that was, but a plant is a plant is a plant, and it
was fairly cheap).  Anyway, upon further inspection last month, I noticed it
was really 2 orchids bunched together and separated them.  One is doing fine
and the other is not, thus the reason for the separation and the special
attention.  The sick one has wrinkled leaves ?the newest being the firmest
which is in between firm and wilted, one root that looks rotten and a stem
with two flowers.  When I repotted it, I put it in a pot with drain holes with
bark and spag moss and 13-13-13 Dynamite fertilizer which I read was good
for orchids.  The orchids are in the bathroom where they get a lot of great
filtered light and some humidity.  I looked at the orchid this morning and the
stem has new growth on it.  What should I do?  Is this a sign the is going to
live or is it still on it's way downhill?  Thanks,  Denise

Answer
Hi Denise,

If the unhealthy phal leaves have wilted and wrinkled along with there not being any healthy live roots, I'm afraid there is not much hope for it.  If there are some healthy roots, it may survive but will take time and patience and some TLC.  

On the healthier phal, if there are some healthy roots left there is definitely some hope.  The main thing you can do to help it is to be careful of how often you water it.  Phals prefer having the potting medium become barely moist between waterings, so try not to water every so many days but rather on when it needs it.  The 13-13-13 Dynamite fertilizer is very good, it is a time release type that leaches out a small amount of fertilizer each time it becomes wet while watering.  

A new leaf growth is an encourging sign.  When it is mature, it should be the same size or larger than the older leafs.  If it ends up smaller, that could indicate there may be a problem that you need to look into.  

In the mean time, keep doing what you had been doing.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.