Crown rot or stem rot? What to do?
 

This is my orchid...got it in January. It bloomed, then the stem started going brown...now the leaves are mushy at the base and falling off. I think I may have gotten water in the crown, but I think it could be the stem. Please help...thank you!

The roots are definitely smushed. I didn’t realize it was in a an interior plastic pot, which I just cut off. I appreciate the links, but have an extremely difficult time reading through all of this these days (age related ADD? No idea :|)...my mind is all over the place. I have a gut feeling on what I should do...maybe just say yes or no...???

• Rinse all dirt off root ball
• Rinse roots off gently with slightly soapy water
• Trim the stem all the way down (the shoot that flowered before)
• Let the roots float freely in a vase of water for now
• Eventually repot in loose soil with air holes

Thank you all so much!

First, Welcome -

That plant has severe crown rot, and I suspect bad roots as well. I don't think it was anything you did. I have seen many cases of blooming orchids where the plant was on its last legs. The issues were there before purchase... plants were pushed to bloom, and once they do, the flowers can last for quite awhile even with little support from the plant. Is it ethical for someone to sell a plant that is on the way out? No... but it is done far too often.

I hope that you will acquire another orchid, that is in better condition to start with. This Forum is a great place to learn orchid care.

mlind --- hard to say if that orchid can be 'saved' - as in being able to make it.

Some accessories/treatments like fungicides or bacterial treatments can sometimes help at first signs of issues. But chances of survival at advanced stages of rotting become relatively small.

Whether this one can actually make it or not ----- take a look at the following information, which can be useful to you if you grow more orchids later.

Click Here and Click Here and Click Here and Click Here.