Question
My phal has 3 large leaves and one long spike that split into 2.  It has 1 flower at the moment, but it seems to be sick.  The bottom leaf became completely yellow, and now the color is spreading up through the rest of the plant.  I separated it from my others and placed it in a southeast window that is filtered by a mini-blind (no direct light).  I looked at the roots, and they appeared to be rotting, so I trimmed the bad parts (only a 1 inch root remains)and channged the spagnum moss out for a bark/charcoal based orchid mix and have been withholding water for about a week with no change.    Is it a lost cause?  What can I do if anything?

Answer
Hello LAL,

A bottom leaf yellowing and dying is not unusual, it is a natural process but other leaves dying in a short time is not normal.  What is the condition of the remaining leaves?  Are the becoming limp and even wrinkled looking?  If they are, that is due to most of the roots having rotted and no longer able to take up moisture and nutrients to sustain the phal.  Repotting into an orchid mix was good but that may not be enough to save it since there are not many live roots left.  

One thing you might try to save it is to put some moist orchid mix or sphagnum moss in a large ziplock bag, place the phal. in the bag and seal it.  Place the bag in a warm shady place and hopefully it will grow new roots.  Open the bag about once a week to allow fresh air in then reseal it.  If new roots do grow, wait until they are over 2 inches long before potting it in a container.  

Hope this helps save it.  Good luck.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.