Need help and advice with Paphiopedilum

[lotis146]

Last spring I picked up my first Paphiopedilum (first Orchid I've ever had with registration info): Paph. Hsinying Majakun #7 X Paph. Hilo Green 'Perfection'.

The flower lived about a week or so after I brought it home. Oh and all my Orchids are about 4 feet from an east facing window that gets maybe an hour and a half of more direct light in the morning; they've all seemed to do well here. I keep the heat in my house relatively high (72 degree F).

Its spike died a couple of months after the flower, I'd say late fall probably. New growth that has a flat profile (is this how they send up new growth) came up about an inch, half inch wide then stopped along with the yellowing and subsequent death of one of 4 leaves (a basal). I thought the plant was dead (ignorance because I didn't know Paph roots were supposed to be brown) and started setting it in a mug of water for anywhere from 20 min to hours (I'd forget sometimes) then set on top of its medium. It's survived with no new growth. I'm carefully watching the other basal leaf that has a very light green color and has recently taken on the slightest of yellow hints. After doing my research yesterday I checked the roots and found some of the ends to be soft but none with a thing "wirey" appearance.

I've had it in a store bought Orchid mix of charcoal, lava rock and bark in a 4-5 in ceramic pot with holes (butterfly designs really) on all sides. I hope to repot today and probably add fertilizer, which I've never done. How do I know if I should cut any of the roots back? Should I use a finer medium for this species? Is there any harm in adding fertilizer to a compromised plant just after repotting?

With this form of medium it's very difficult, near impossible, to "detect" when it's time to water as it does not retain water (which I know is good). I've heard people say you can judge by the weight of the plant, well mine is in a ceramic pot so that won't work. Over-watering has always been my curse, so would it be best if I just "schedule" weekly waterings, soaking it in the sink for 15 minutes and letting the water run out? Or spritzing it? Can I put it on a dish of pebbles with water to increase humidity, will it benefit from this given the temperature in my house this winter and even in the summer when I run the A/C?

The roots on this plant are a darker brown, not so much cinnamon in color. Any advice?

Thanks everyone!
Lotis