What am I doing wrong?
 

About two years ago I purchased an orchid. Im not sure of the type, it was just the regular grocery store one, with big beautiful flowers.
I was able to keep everything looking great for about 6 months. The flowers were still there and the plant looked healthy. After 6 months the flowers fell off (which I had read is normal).
I moved the plant to a bathroom with a window, so it could be in a moist environment. A few months later, some new flowers started to come out! I was THRILLEDd because I have never gotten an orchid to live this long or even start to grow new flowers. I left it alone, keeping up the regular watering/care routine.
Sadly, a few days later, right before the flowers looked like they were going to bloom, they wilted and fell off :(
Since then, nothing has happened. The plant continues to look 'stagnant'; no new growth but not dead. This morning I went to check on it and noticed that the centre is starting to look brown... I touched the two top big green healthy looking leaves and they fell off!!!
The centre almost looks like its rotting... the roots are dry right now and nothing is different. Does anyone know whats going on? I really want this plant to live and eventually sprout out some new flowers :).
My hubby has an ongoing joke that I can't come near orchids because when they sense me, they wilt over and die :( lol
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated
(PS Ive tried to include a pic.. im new, so im not sure if I did it right)

I'm very new to orchids myself but I'm thinking that maybe the condensation from showers may have collected in the crown and created crown rot. I lost a couple to that because I wansnt careful enough when I watered to make sure tht if any water got between the leaves (the "crown" of the plant) I dried it quickly and thoroughly. Good luck, I know much more experienced growers can be more helpful.

This is called crown rot. It usually happens when moisture in the center of the leaves allows rot to develop.
Once the center dies the plant will not continue to grow new leaves.

Phalaenopsis orchids are prone to this because the way they are grown provides the perfect condition for water to stand and rot to develop. In the wild they grow leaning over so excess water can drain out of the center.

Most growers try not to get water on the crown of the plant and if they do, they dry it with a bit of paper towel, etc. Good air movement helps prevent it too.
You may have done nothing wrong. This could have started before you got it.

You can treat this with a good dowsing of Hydrogen Peroxide into the crown.
The plant would also possibly need to be repotted.

This plant may very possibly grow a side shoot called a keiki that will develop into a new growing plant.
If you feel like giving it a chance, wait a bit and see what happens.

Maureen

Thank you!

How much hydrogen peroxide should I put on the rot? Should it be diluted?

I saw another thread about repotting and I am going to have a browse through there and try that.

thank you!

You have crown rot, a problem stemming from water staying in the crown. Sadly, few if any plants recover in spite of treatment. :( For more info on Phals, read the sticky at the top of this Beginner Forum on "The Phal Abuse Stops Here". Great info.

It has crown rot. Moisture got trapped in the crown. With Phals, they do like moisture but they need to dry out and part of making them grow nicely is to have good air circulation in the root zone and around that crown area of the plant. I usually run a ceiling fan around my Phals everytime I have them watered, or if weather permits, open up a window beside it.

If it were mine, I will try and repot, and move it to an area with better ventilation but still low light area. You can certainly try the hydrogen peroxide suggestion, just in case it can still arrest that spreading rot. But if the leaves just continue to dwindle and die, better start anew and just learn from this growing lesson.

Don't feel bad, at some point we all encounter similar issues. :)

As said by others, you have crown rot on your phal. It could be from condensation from being in the bathroom or it could be from getting water in the crown when it was watered. In either case, you'll see no new growth from the center.
If the center has already dried out I wouldn't bother with the hydrogen peroxide, the damage has already been done.
Seeing as your plant is already stressed, I would recommend leaving it in the pot and medium it is currently in. Repotting is stressful to a plant and may add further damage which the plant may not recover from. Only repot if the medium in which it currently in is going bad.
You have a better chance if you just let the plant remain as it is and keep up with regular watering. More than likely you'll get a keiki which will grow from the base of the plant in between the roots.
You may also want to consider moving the plant out of the bathroom and placing it on a humidity tray in another room if the bathroom environment is the cause of the crown rot.

Good Luck, I hope it recovers for you!

Judi

Your timeline. Was it in the bathroom for 1.5 years? Or one year.

Leave it alone. Water it once a week. Do nothing more. Do not get any water in the crown. I will bet if you follow this it will put out a keiki and that will grow for you.

---------- Post added at 10:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

I would also dab some powdered cinnamon in the center where the rot is. That will keep any more rot at bay.

What am I doing wrong?
 

The plant's a goner, crown rot, and tell your husband to stop cracking those awful jokes.
Do join your local orchid society, meet other supportive hobbyists and learn from them how they grow their beautiful orchids.
Best of luck.