Help! New phalaenopsis owner - No idea what's going on!!

[MothGirl]

Hi everyone,

I had a housewarming a few weeks ago and someone bought me a gorgeous phalaenopsis. It was blooming and happy when it got to my apartment. In a few days, it started to wilt. It is in a bright window facing east. It is in it's original clear plastic pot in what looks to be a bark medium. I put the pot on top of a bowl filled with stones and water (to maintain humidity). The flowers are still dying and I'm worried that I'm killing it. I'm watering about every 3-4 days when the medium is just about dry.

I've never owned an orchid before and I'd hate to have killed my first in just weeks! I've read a ton of stuff but I seem to be getting differing facts. Hoping you guys can help! Seems to be tons of experience around here.

Should I repot? Should I trim the dying flowers off to save the plant? Water less? More? Fertilize? Help!

Thanks so much!

[Ross]

Can you see the roots? Are they whiteish when you water? Are they Green? If green, then wait a day or two. Are the leaves plump? If all the signs point to plump leaves, whiteish roots, etc. then I would say the flowers were past peak when the plant was purchased. No biggy. When they fall off, cut the stalk off and wait for new leaf growth. Your east window should be fine. Sounds like you are doing everything fine.

[MothGirl]

No, the roots are green. The leaves have tiny pock marks and the lowermost leaf is turning yellow. What do you think?

[Dorothy]

Can you post a photo of it .. It would be a great help

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Flowers naturally fall off after the flowers themselves are spent. As long as the plant itself is healthy it should rebloom next year.

Is the bark dark brown or reddish brown? Reddish brown is fresh. Dark brown or almost black is old and breaking down. If medium is breaking down, change it all out. When you do check the roots to see if there's root rot.

[MothGirl]

I'll take pictures tonight. Thank you for all of your help!

The medium is definitely old, in that case. It's dark and seems to be crumbly. I'll stop by the florist today and pick up some new medium.