Healthy roots but dying leaf/stem on a Phal?

[WillisWill]

This past summer I purchased a nice phal in spike from a nursery; it ended up blooming quite well. I kept it in a east facing window, watered when the top of the sphag was dry, and gave it 1 oz/1 gallon repotme's MSU fertilizer every two weeks

After the flowers were done, the top leaf turned yellow over the course of a week or two and ended up dropping off. I repotted the plant, and the roots were as healthy and vigorous as any phal I've ever repotted. The stem beneath the top leaf appears dried over and dead. The plant has been in this state for 2 months or so, and has shown no sign of putting out a new leaf. Except for the first leaf, no other leaf shows any sign of distress.

Is this plant a goner, or is there anything I can/should do for it?

Thanks

[camille1585]

When rot affects the top leaf, it's usually due to crown rot, probably from having left water stand in the crown.

Is that top leaf the newest leaf, or was there another above it at one point. I didn't really understand. Why I ask is that if the meristem has not been damaged by the rot it should grow a new leaf at some point. But if the newest leaf rotted out, then it's likely that the meristem is a goner.

If that's the case, you'll get no new leaves, but the plant will keep blooming from each leaf axil until there are none left. I also wouldn't be surprised if the plant put out a basal keiki from which it will grow again.

I guess it's wait and see, in any case it seems that the plant is otherwise healthy now. Even if the meristem is intact, I'm not surprised that there are no new leaves, it's not the season for it (unless you are living in FL or someplace warm like that). If anything starts to grow, it will more likely be in the spring/summer.

[WillisWill]

Thank you for your response Camille - it was the topmost/newest leaf that turned yellow and died, the top leaf in the photos is second-newest leaf on the plant

I'd be excited for a keiki, as I've never gotten one before. We'll just have to wait and see