Can a Phal orchid Burn Out?

[Optimist]

If the care (including near death experience) caused the enzymes that cause growth to switch off, then yes, it will stop growing. The leaf length of phals will often reflect their culture and care.

The goal is to have ever-increasing size, but often, if you go from the ideal conditions of the grower's greenhouse, to your place which may lack ideal orchid conditions, then the leaves will show that they are not getting the same care. (I am trying not to antrhopomophise here-- it is not like they are "angry" or anything), they just need to ration their food in different ways, and a short leaf is just as useful as a long one, in many ways.