Question
I had my Phal bright pink orchid for 2 years now. I Love this beautiful plant and I've taking great care of it, re-potting it in orchid mix and fertilizing it with orchid fert....and what not!!! The plant took two years to re-bloom, as it was in full bloom when I got it, and I cut the stem back and cut the dead roots and re-potted it. It was doing so well it had a huge spike and about seven blooms on it, and then all of a sudden I notice that the flowers were falling off right after they bloomed, and the other blooms that haven't opened yet are a bit droopy. The leaves are starting to look wrinkly and I'm worried it might be stressed out from maybe being expose to to much light, because I have it in a very bright room, on a side table next to a lamp that we keep on all night most nights. Help please!!! Can my phal still be saved?

Answer
Hello Jacqueline,

Blooms dying soon after opening along with buds drooping without opening could be due to several things, the main one being fruits near by.  Ripening fruits produce ethylene gas as they ripen and it can be fatal to blooms and buds.  Other things are freshly painted walls in the room, unburnt heating gas from a heater, being placed very close to a heater vent causing sudden temperature changes.  Are one or more of these present where it is growing?  

As for where you presently have it, I would suggest moving it away from the night light as orchids need periods of darkenes to grow properly.  

Now for the leaves becoming wrinkly, that many times is an indication that the roots are dying and rotting which usually is caused by the potting mix being kept too wet.  Orchid roots need to breath and exchange gases that a constantly wet mix will not allow.  For this reason, it is best to allow the mix to become almost dry between waterings.  

Hope this helps but if you have more questions or comments about the above, write back and I'll try to help with them.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.