Help! Is there still any hope for this phal?

[Berrybee]

Hello, I just noticed recently a phal I got at the end of last year is in very bad shape, or perhaps it's already dead. It just finished flowering not long ago, and recently the leaves turned yellow and fell off one by one, and only the top two left this morning. Now even the last two leaves broke off (they are still connected and green).

I took the plant out of the medium, which is sphagnum moss when I bought it (I didn't repot since the plant was in flowering phase all the time, and now realized that was a mistake). The plant now has no leaves on it, and the crown rotted. The only things left on the plant are:

1. two spikes that are still green and some knots seems to have something poking out. Not sure if that is future branch spike or keiki.
2. some roots are still firm. There are not many roots and some are already dead.
3. the pair of two leaves that broke off the plant are still green.

So given these condition, is it still possible to save the plant? for example to see new leaf grows out (feels impossible to me), or have some keiki grow out, or roots growing out from the two connected green leaves?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, or conclusions!

[lotis146]

Can you post some pictures please?

Sounds like you know it's crown rot.

Depending on your personality you may just want to start over with a new plant. However I tend towards the nerdy side of things and would keep the plant as long as things are still green, especially if you still have some green spikes. Your plant might well grow a keiki thereby duplicating itself.

You should probably go ahead and repot it if you're going to keep it but make sure to repot it in medium that you are comfortable and capable of watering appropriately. I underwater so bark isn't a real good candidate for me. Let's say you underwater too, in which case you could still use some moss or a moss/bark mix just be sure to check your medium, saying with skewer method, before watering next.

If you do decide to keep this plant to see how it goes - again I suggest this - you should probably get it a friend... and another for yourself.

I might also add that in the future if you're uncomfortable repotting a new plant b/c it's in bloom - which is something you can do btw but it can come at the risk of the blooms, especially if you're not careful or don't maintain proper moisture in the new medium - just be sure to check the moisture of the moss it's in before you water again. A lot of times Phals are PACKED in moss and that moss will retain moisture for weeks. Plus Phals don't really mind drying out a bit between waterings just don't let it dry out for long.

Good luck & do post pics.