This Phal is in trouble. Ideas anyone?

[gehentogo]

I rescued all of this plant from my wife.

I have posted pics of this Phal before, and followed the advice of repotting it, and trimming the dead stuff off.

Well, I got most of the dead roots (they were in surprisingly good shape), and as much of the dead stump that I felt safe trimming. This is what is left. There is still a lot of black, but I dared not go any farther thinking I might damage the remaining leaf or the spike.

I am hoping the keiki will grow as it looks healthy so far. But, what is wrong with the rest of the plant? I suspect crown rot. The environment I rescued it from was fairly humid, and my wife liked to spray her orchids with a water bottle.

I know someone here can help. Thanks!

[mayres]

You have a couple of good options here.
As soon as the keiki has roots an inch and a half long I'd cut it off and all the spike activity (entire spike to the base). This may become your new plant (?) if you wish. Another option would be to forego developing the keiki (if you are more concerned about the mother plant) and cut the spike off immediately. Your best option is for the mother plant to send up a basal growth/keiki - this will provide the needed new crown for eventual growth and overall plant health. Your roots look excellent so hopefully this will happen soon. It is going to take a long time for this process to be accomplished - at best, if you do get a basal growth, it will be a couple of years before you have a nice looking healthy plant again. Actually, whether you choose to develop the spike keiki or wait for the mother plant to basal keiki - either way is going to be approximately the same approximate period - long time. In about 18-24 months you may end up with TWO orchids ready to once again bloom if you provide the right conditions. If you have the patience and enjoy the process go for it. If you are after flowers and a nice plant any time soon - I'd suggest purchasing another and/or replacement. Good luck!

[quiltergal]

The only thing I would add here is to cut off the portions of the spike that look like they are going to bloom. The plant needs to conserve energy at this point, or at the very least direct it into new vegetative growth. Don't let it flower.

[gehentogo]

I had planned on keeping the keiki until the roots show a couple inches, then I at least have one healthy plant. I guess I'll stick with that plan. Once that is done, I would like to try to save the mother.

My instinct then would be to cut the spike, and cut away all of the black I see. The problem is, there are about a half-dozen roots at the top of that plant that are black. If I cut them, I have no idea how many roots I would kill. Many of the green roots you can see in the pot are the bottom sections of these black roots. Will the plant recover?

[Lavendula]

um, it looks as if the parts of the roots closest to the crown rot/exposed to air are being affected, and I take that to mean the rot is spreading... I would treat the roots and potting medium with some physan 20 right away, and then keep an eye to see if the black spreads any more. If it does you're gonna have to chop those roots I think. But it looks like it's got some good root growth going, so I wouldn't worry that it would hurt the plant terribly. It's better to ease as much of the plants stress as you can so it can focus on new growth instead of fighting infections ect.