HELP!! What's happening to my orchid

[Alefti42]

Thanks so much to everyone on here. The vendor knew little about the plant. He tried to accuse me of multiple offenses in this order 1) over watering 2) giving it frostbite 3)underwatering (don't ask) and 4) pouring alcohol on the plant (???). A real asshole. Anyway, he's replacing it with a similar plant. I tried to get a refund because I just didn't trust him, but this was all I could get. I guess something is better than nothing.

BTW - the crown was black by this morning.

A couple of questions, though....

1)Is there anything I should do to the area where the plant stood in my home to sanitize it of any spores.

2) The crown on the new plant looked healthy, but is there anything I should inspect when I get it home (repotting, perhaps?) to make sure it is healthy.

Thanks again

[ischel1]

Put it inside a cooler to transport it back to the vendor. I transport mine like this all the time and no problems.
I would definitely depot the plant on getting it home and check the roots. Prune any dead ones and remove any sphagnum moss (The death knoll for phals)from around the roots. Repot in orchid bark and a clay pot. Now bear in mind that by doing this you will most likely lose any flowers and or buds the plant has, but it's a toss up. You either lose the flowers or maybe the plant if you don't check out the roots.
ischel

[articuno75]

The trick to a bark mix is to soak it for up to 24 hrs so that the mix is saturated and ready for use. I like using a mix that contains coir/cocohusk, perlite and charcoal. This works really well also. Also as a precaution that I do with all of my plants that I get I automatically treat them with a really good systematic insecticide/fungicide/miticide.

[Alefti42]

Thanks. And I can get all this stuff at a gardening center of sorts?

[Alefti42]

I'm perfectly willing to repot it and check the roots i.e. lose the current blooms to make sure the plant lives. Can anyone direct me to good instructions on how to do this online? Something that takes me through treating it with a fungicide and repotting?

Thanks again. You have all been so helpful.

[ischel1]

Go to the top of this page where it says RVO's Orchid Talk Forum and click on it. The next window that opens will have a list on the left hand side and at the bottom it says Orchid Talk Articles, click there and you'll find what you want. If not you can pm me for more info on vendors.
ischel

[Gin]

I grow all my Phals. 50 or more of them, and species Species Phals . in Spag. moss they love it . It is not death to Phals . What the other plant had was crown rot the result of leaving water sit in the top of the plant . It happens at a lot of florists and stores that sell them .

[articuno75]

Gin,
How are you having such success at spagh and Phals? Everytime I get a Phal, it's in spagh, literally cringing. What's your growing conditions that make it successful for you? I can do it with Oncidiums, but not Phals.