Can I save this phal.?

[Elise]

I work in an "upscale" grocery store in the deli, which is right next to our amazing floral department. That's how I got bit by the orchid bug and bought my first phal. about 2 mos. ago. Needless to say, I find myself wandering over there on my breaks, pestering our florist!! Well, she had marked down this pitiful phal. in this gorgeous basket container for $5 so I bought it mostly for the container!! Apparently, when she got it, it was ice cold and, of course, the stem and flowers are dried and black, like they've been burned. Trash, right? Here's the thing: the leaves are nice and fleshy, medium green, no spots or anything. I took her out of the container and shook off the moss and bark and most of her roots actually look good-greyish/green and plump. I put her in some fresh spahagnum and cut off about 2" off the stem. Is this futile for me to try to save her?! Should I be trying some sort of orchid CPR or is she truly ready for burial?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Keep it. Most Phals only bloom once a year anyways. It'll rebloom the next season as long as the plant is alive.

Grow intermediate to warm (55 degrees F to 90 degrees F). Most grow in shade to bright shade. 50% to 100% humidity is fine. Good air circulation around the roots is one of the keys to success. Allow the medium and/or roots to dry out completely before watering again. Avoid water getting in the leaf axils, (it causes crown rot if the water doesn't dry out fast enough). Fertilize all year.

Pot in fir bark or mount them (depends on the area you grow and how successful with one method over the other).

[Bird Song Farm]

Hi,
Only thing I could add is if you cut 2" off the top of the stem you might want to cut down near the bottom of the stem. Just above the first node. I read to post to say that the stem (spike) is dried and black so you might as well cut it off.
Al

[AaronM]

Two things I would suggest.
1) Move out of the sphagnum moss and into a bark chip type medium with some sphag mixed in.
2) Place it in a cedar basket and hang the basket by only two of the rings so the basket hangs at an angle. This is more similar to how the plants grow from trees in the wild and helps prevent water from pooling where the leaves join the stem (thereby preventing crown rot). It also looks pretty cool in my opinion.