Hi Chris...well, your PL has sure been through a lot..LOL What size pot is it in, what's its height and what type of soil is it in? Since you've found rot and mushrooms, sounds to me like the soil is either too heavy or you're overwatering. Especially if it is emitting a sour odor. I don't normally recommend repotting this time of year, but since you're in Fl, and rot will only worsen if something isn't done this is what I'd do.. Remove plant from its pot and check roots..if any look dead, (mushy) cut them off..Feel soil near the bottom of pot..is it wet? Of course this won't work if you've recently watered. I'd discard old soil, clean container, and repot in fresh, well-draining soil...If pot is more than 1-2" wider than roots, this container is fine, but if larger, I'd go with a smaller pot. Excess soil, due to large containers doesn't work.. While you're at it, remove mushrooms. Most are harmless, but I really don't know much about shrooms. After PL is settled in its clean, fresh-soil pot, either take to sink or hose outside..Water until it seeps from drainage holes..(does your pot have drainage holes?) See how it does..it'll take time to settle which is normal, and there will be a waiting time before new leaves grow. If leaves turn black again, then you may need to apply a fungucide. But I'd wait to see how it does before adding chemicals. PS..Find a bright, airy spot..I wouldn't move it around...give time for it to acclimate. Toni

Martin, It's okay. It comes upright on a mobile device (but sideways on my computer, go figure lol). And unfortunately, the only way to upload more than one photo at a time is to insert a photo link from a Photobucket or Flickr account. I see what you mean. It is not necessary to cut the section where the leaf is connected to (if that makes sense). I've posted a picture of where you should cut. This will be only cutting the flower stem. As Auron stated, it will eventually turn brown, dry up, and you can pull it out. It takes awhile though, so expect it first to yellow, then brown, and take forever to dry out before you can lightly tug and it'll come out with ease. I'm being dramatic, but it may be a month or so before the stem dries out all the way down to where it connects inside the sheathy part on the stem (I hope that makes sense too, I also don't know the proper terms). So, if you tug alittle and it resists, come back in another couple weeks. I hope this helps. This applies to any future flowers you have as well. Planto

Thank you for further opinions/advice. ashes_of_the_fire those roots are gorgeous! For most part I tend to slightly underwater my orchids, before the ailment that is (I always thought it was fine as they flowered and looked healthy) and the roots would be slightly thinner than yours. I am especially grateful for the step by step instructions. I will definitely need them as this will be my first repotting on my own! (mum refused to help as she says last time she got involved it got them to the current state). I have something by Westland called 'orchid compost'. It says it has organic matter, bark and wood fibre. This is the only thing suitable at the shop nearest to us (and that is 30 minutes away). There is another shop that is about 1 hour away in another zone that requires 2 buses. But I am not sure that one is much better. I think I'll repot the worst first (I will do it tomorrow morning when there is more light and might post photos in case I need advise of whether they are actually alive)... to see how they take to this compost. And order the following online: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elite-Orchid-Compost-Range-for-Phalaenopsis-5-Litres-/261365464855 Does that seem like a good mix? Apparently one of the orchids is not actually a Phalaenopsis that mum owns (since it hasn't had flowers in years I did not know any better). Though she cannot remember its name. meyermike_1micha thank you for the tip ... I have been reading many websites and books about caring for orchids, but none actually go into any sort of detail. Something I read a year ago said that orchids can grow without any medium! in baskets but would require very frequent sprays. Wow! Maybe I need to do that to avoid the bugs. jane__ny thank you for the link! It is very helpful. As I said the books I could get from the library and some websites I came across weren't as helpful. Most of the books had various pictures and species, and talked about reproduction, illness and the fact that orchids depending on the type like various mediums including moss, bark, and something else. No one ever went into basics of how to physically water them (just state that you can spray or pour). Cloths were a strategy to get rid of insects. They have only been covered in them for about 3 months. These bugs are a pain to get rid of ... and one of the solutions is placing a layer of sand on top of the peat ... it cuts air supply to them and cuts their wings when they crawl out. I was a bit apprehensive of doing that (since who knows what the sand will be infected with!) So I saw someone's solution of placing denim to a similar effect ... break the cycle. Each fly lays many many eggs ... and the problem multiplies. Most of these I read were for houseplants ... as no one wrote about infected orchids. But the things is one of the orchids I bought was already infected and it was in bark! So it does happen. Probably not as frequently. I know most of the solutions I was trying were damaging the health of the plants, but as I mentioned these stuff eat roots ... and reproduce fast. So the fact that some of the orchids are still alive is pretty much a miracle. I do not wish this infection on anyone's plants. Oh and I place my stupidity/naivety to the fact that for many years that I have owned orchids they were healthy and I never saw what I have been seeing in the past 3/4 of the year. Thank you so much for your support! I also include the picture of the flies! (this was when the situation was improving too! before then you couldn't see the yellow ... it is a lot a lot better now). Just about 3 or 4 flies per sticker. Another quick question ... do I need to dry out the orchid compost completely before planting? (that is where I went wrong with the peat apparently) Lija P.S. Liquid Oxygen contains Hydrogen Peroxide. It was advised to me as it apparently burns up the larvae which seemed like a pleasant thought.

Tapla & others i understand both sides of the debate for my PL. I repotted the PL in 5:1:1 (used 5 Reptibark, 1 Sp peat, & 1+Med perlite (prob 1.25) & trimmed off the brown & left many leaves on. It looked droopy the next day & figured it would have some transplant shock. I had to go out of town for work, but had my watering help in order. She texted me a pic of the wood stick so I could tell her when it was ready to water. She watered it once when I was gone for 9 days. My help however, didn't tell me that the whole plant collapsed! (Arguing I couldn't do anything for the plant out of town). moving on, Mother Nature decided the next step. Last night when I got home, I cut all the leaves back. The mix is dry on top but moist a bit down-- maybe a bit too moist, but not wet, not soggy for sure. This mix is better than it was in before, but this PL never wilted between waterings before. When I felt down, I pulled up one of the small loose & single shoot & the roots were brown & didn't Li like it was the same PL I left 9 days ago! Should I dig it up to evaluate the other roots? I can't believe the roots would have started to rot so fast, but im not sure what to do. I used distilled water. And I planned on starting to fertilize with 9-3-6 when I came home. Your last comment indicated to make sure the "Roots only " plant wasn't too moist & just damp. Would putting the PL near my grow light be beneficial? I do think the PL needed more light than it received before- it had enough to survive, but not thrive. My husband has a light meter... What FC/lux would be best at this point? When I repotted my big PL (pics shown), I replanted the other 2 I had. The medium PL took a hit to the older leaves (which I've now removed) but small newer ones ok & plant still green. The smallest PL is still green & doing ok I think. I know things don't happen fast with plants, but I want to make sure I'm giving the best environment it needs. Your help is always appreciated as I learn! Thanks! ~Betina