White fuzz appearing on sick phalaenopsis orchid roots?? Help!

[emmajs243]

Thank you Alice for sharing your thoughts. I have also thought that same thing and I guess from that thought the question arises, well are the roots really dead? From their appearance I sure would say yes but when you really start to inspect them, they are not at all mushy or papery thin. So I have been left unsure on whether or not to trim them or if I should even keep trying to save her.

Now update: last night I started to repot the other Phal that came with her when my friend purchased them. That Phal has some great root growth but, she has a black circle about half the size of a dime where the leaves join at the base of the plant or "stem". Since these two were purchased together I am wondering if that is what is going on with this ones stem because it looks very similar. Since her roots are in such terrible damage on this plant and her stem is now seeming to have a rot, I am highly questioning if she is salvageable. The other one has great new growing roots so I hate to give up on her but she hasn't much more advanced stem rot although it seems to be moving very slowly. Am I just prolonging the inevitable? I have heard that stem rot can't be cured and if anything you manage it and cross your fingers for a Keike. I just don't know if my efforts are going to be worth anything in the end!