HELP Dying Orchid? Top Leaf turning Yellow;Phalaenopsis

[AticcaKathy]

Hi guys, I am new to this forum so I dont know how this works, and I really need to know how to care for my orchid, and what I should do to keep it healthy. My bf got me this orchid for valentines day/ 2017, but I recently started noticing that one leaf on the top started yellowing. I check it for water and noticed that it did have water. But I decided to put three icecubes (i thought maybe the temperature of the icecubes would cool it down? idk ) then I leave it be. I took it out of the vase, which is a ceramic vase, and took away all the gunk at the top, like all the stuffing they put so it wont look so bare? I read that Orchids need airflow.
The bottom has water, and I think some of the roots are dying or just turning dark brown.
The buds on top are wilting and two have fallen, one in bloom, and another that didnt have the chance to bloom.
I dont know the temperature of my house but I leave my AC at 76 or 74
I am providing pictures for good measure.
I really dont know what to do
Please help D:!!

[jkofferdahl]

Your pics didn't come through.

It sounds as though your orchid is very stressed. First, orchids are tropical plants and so you should never use ice cubes to water them. A Phalaenopsis suffers extreme damage from cold temperatures. Please stop doing that. When you water, allow room-temperature water to flow through the pot and out the bottom.

That your plant has been sitting in water is a further concern, and likely why the rots are so ugly-dark. You have some root rot. Phalaenopsis roots like to be soaked when watered, but they also like to dry out between waterings.

Most likely the plant should be repotted, but at the very least you need to give it a rest. My guess is that the ceramic pot is glazed, and if so take the inner pot out. Let the plant sit and rest, and thoroughly dry out. If you can detect any moisture whatsoever in the pot, let it keep drying. When it's fully dry, wait one more day before running some water through the pot.

[AticcaKathy]

thank you for replying, i did check the bottom and it was soaking wet. I took off all the moss and such, and some of the roots were yellow and red, and some were already turning dark brown.
What should I use to repot with?
what should I use?
Should I buy a different pot with better ventilation?

[WhiteRabbit]

If the top most leaf/leaves yellow, there may be crown rot. You can try putting ground cinnamon in the crown (keep it away from roots).

You might want to read the first few pages of this thread

[estación seca]

Many Phals are sold as disposable arrangements, and the potting used will eventually kill the plant. But they can grow and bloom again with proper care, which usually involves repotting right away.

Sonya/WhiteRabbit's link didn't display properly for some reason. Here is a very good read for you:
The Phal abuse ends here.

People grow Phalaenopsis in chunky medium that permits lots of air to go through. People use medium to large orchid bark chunks, lava cinders and clay balls (LECA) sold for hydroponics. Use a pot just barely big enough to hold the roots.

The just add ice thing is a mystery. Most people kill the plants doing that. I don't know why they give those instructions.

For now, unpot your plant, cut off all the mushy or black roots, and let it dry for a day. Healthy Phal roots are whitish, light brown or green, and firm. When they are wet they turn green. When they are dead they turn mushy and dark brown or black.

Repot the plant. Water it at the sink, letting the water run through all the medium. Now use the skewer method here, and water again when the skewer has become dry:
Using skewers to determine when to water

Most Phals are pretty resilient. There is an outside chance your plant has rot into the stem already, and it might not make it. Next time you will know what to do.