Question
Hi, I would love any advice you could give me on how to salvage an orchid I was given from a friend who was moving out of country.  It hadn't been flowering and she wasn't exactly sure on how to care for it, though at the time it had been growing leaves.  Since then, I'm sure I haven't been watering it enough and it hasn't gotten enough sunlight.  

I moved it nearer a south-facing window and it appears to have a new, bright-green leaf appearing.  Today I repotted it in an orchid medium (unfortunately, the pot might be a little big) and discovered that it only has aerial roots!  All the other ones had died out, long ago apparently.  

I tried to trim off the dead roots and found out the hard way that a couple of them were actually alive and well.  I decided to hedge my bets and put some of the aerial roots in the potting soil and the longest one outside of the pot. My plan is to apologize to it, try to mist the aerial root and leaves and leave it alone to try to recuperate a little bit.  I'm guessing that fertilizer might help at this point.  Any other advice or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Michelle, I will assume that you have a phalaenopsis or moth orchid-- which are the most common type of orchid. If it is another type, my suggestions might need some modification.  The fact that you have a new leaf is great.  It sounds as if you repotted it at the right time.  Be sure that the pot you use has lots of drainage holes in the bottom.  The orchid potting mix you use should have some fir bark in it to allow more air through to the roots.  It's fine that you placed some of the aerial roots into the potting mix.  Dead or dying roots are collapsed and not firm.  Healthy roots are firm and, if wetted sufficiently, will have a green appearance due to the chlorophyll in the roots. Collapsed roots are rotted roots and only those should be removed.  Any misting or watering you do should be in the morning.  I prefer to run a small fan after watering tohelp dry out any excess moisture on the leaves.  EDxcess water that runs down between newly emerging roots, if left to pool there, might lead to rot-- so avoid that.  Phalaenopsis prefer an east window if you have one as they particularly appreciate the morning sun.  South windows tend to be too bright for phalaenopsis in the winter and not bight enough in the summer.  If you only have a south window, you can adjust by moving the plant back from the window in the winter and closer to the window in the summer.  Phalaenopsis are house plants and prefer temperatures in the 60-80 degrees range.  Watering it every week in the morning is good.  Feed it lightly with every watering (1/4 tsp/gal).  Let me know if I overlooked anything or if you have a different type of orchid.