Tremendously.
I suspect the roots are not just rotting on the top of the moss. I'd check the roots in the pot as well.
If the pot is sitting in water, that's not a good practice either. It has a very high potential of causing root rot.
Growing in full on sphagnum moss may not work out for your growing conditions. Full on sphagnum moss has a tendency to compact.
However...
I suspect that you didn't change out the potting medium yet. So I'm willing to bet that it was in the same pot with the same moss that you bought the Phal from.
If this is the case, then I suggest you change out the potting medium immediately. I used to work for Norman's Orchids (aka orchids.com). They are a major US distributor of Phalaenopsis orchids from Taiwan. The bread and butter crop are Phals. I'm betting they were the ones who supplied the store you bought the plant from (they supply to places like The Home Depot, and small nurseries like Hausermann's). The moss tends to be very tightly packed.
Unless the humidity of the bathroom is very low, there is usually no need to mist the plant. Even then,
misting can cause problems in pot culture.
Chances are the
misting is causing more problems than good. Here's why...
Phals naturally grow on trees with little or no moss mostly oriented in a horizontal position, and occasionally pendulously. Water has a small chance of dribbling into the crown and getting trapped. Plus, it's out in the big blue wild, winds or breezes will take care of any moisture that lands on the leaves.
But...
In pot culture, many of the plants for sale are positioned unnaturally in a vertical position. In this scenario, if you mist, water has a very high chance of dribbling into the crown when watering or
misting. This can cause crown rot. People usually add an extra step in the care regimen by using a piece of paper towel or toilet paper and dabbing the recesses of the crown to sop up any water that got in there during watering.
How do Phals get their humidity, you ask.
Well, other than the fact that they're from the tropical forests of Asia, I'll be a bit more specific.
The sources of humidity are from:
1. The ocean.
2. Where they grow. Some grow on trees that are found in tropical swamp forests. Others grow on trees found near streams or rivers (sometimes those rivers are very large).
3. After it rains.
Just so you know...
Phals in pot culture that are grown upright will tend to lean towards the direction of the light source naturally.
Then there's the issue with the bathroom humidity. I take it you don't have a humidity meter. Chances are the humidity after you take a shower is usually very high (80% - 100%). But I'm willing to bet that when you're not taking a shower, the humidity in your bathroom is probably about 50% - 60% because of all the water that's there (sink, toilet bowl, shower/bathtub). Believe it or not 60% -80% is usually good enough, especially for a Phal hybrid.
Quite the contrary, I don't think this was a natural dropping of an old leaf (which does actually occur). I believe it's a sign of suffocation due to insufficient air getting to the roots and "over watering".
As far as lighting/light intensity is concerned...
I don't go by window directions. That's a relative thing. Since you're in Delaware, south window may mean that the lighting is not that strong because you're further away from the equator, I don't know...
Shade, bright shade, moderate, bright indirect, or full sun may be somewhat relative too, but these terms are better understood without having to bust out a light meter (it's a bit clearer and not quite as abstract as north, south, east, west windows).
A picture of the plant can help determine the degree of distress this plant is under.
BTW, I think the black ring is a fungal infection it acquired due to the stress of what I mentioned above. High stress = low disease immunity (same as people.
).
So that you have a point of reference. I've posted a link to a website that shows you where and how a Phalaenopsis grows in nature. Just scroll down and read the captions.
Hopefully this can stir up some ideas.
http://www.ibanorum.netfirms.com/gaharu.htm
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PHAL ORCHID LEAF
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