I've got the phal outside, out of direct sun, but with lot of air movement. The latest I mist if I mist in the evening is about seven when I get home from work. I take care not getting water into the crown or the leave axes but if water gets there, I dry it off with a peper towell.
I'll try with sugar water for the spike.
I'm confident the rooting hormone will work. I used it for the first time on a Vanda that had been very long dormant, without any sign of growth. With only one application, in less than two weeks, two new roots have started to grow.
This is the phal in question and the Vanda with it's new roots (one is even double, so should I say three new roots?).