Orchid Limp & Dried -- After 3 Week Vacation. Expert opinions needed on the problem.

[groovygardengirl]

I just got back from a three week vacation and found my new phalaenopsis orchid looking like this. See links to pictures attached, below.

The plant growing medium was completely dried out, upon inspection.
This is my first orchid and I'm not sure if this is normal wilt after a bloom has finished or if it was not watered sufficiently / overwatered (doubtful) or something else. There appears to be good growth on the leaves and a possible healthy bud on the tip, although being a complete and utter novice at this, I'm not sure.

Any help, hints, advice, hunches, guesses, etc. from orchid growers more experienced than I (aka: everyone) are more than welcome. Right now, I'm must not sure what to do with my sweet plant. Like, should this be pruned or left as is?

Thanks in advance. Jennifer

[groovygardengirl]

Also, I didn't mention in my original post, but my neigbor did water my plants every week, so it did get watered whilst I was gone. Thanks.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

The flower loss could be due to the plant being overly dried out. If the pot was dry when you got home, this is very likely. Normally flowers fade one at a time. Fading all at once is usually severe under watering. It looks like the spike is loosing color, as tho it is drying up. If it is, it will become more obvious with time. If the spike drys up, go ahead and cut it off, and if the stem is dry enough, you don't have to worry about sterilizing a tool, just be sure it is good and dead before cutting. Hope the leaves didn't shrivel any while being dry.

[groovygardengirl]

Thanks Cynthia. I appreciate you taking the time to give me this feedback. Fortunately the leaves look good and I'll monitor and proceed according to your suggestions above. Jennifer

[jerrymeola]

I doubt that your plant is suffering from lack of water. Once a week indoors should be fine unless you have extremely harsh dry conditions.

The plant looks fine and the flowers were probably at the end of its time.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Jerry, it looks like the plant is in moss. If the helper didn't know how to water orchids, and the top got dry, not allowing water to penetrate, the helper may have thought they were watering it enough by just putting a little puddle on the hardened top, and not really giving the plant nearly what it needed. And the dryer the moss got, they slower would be the penetration of water. Anyway, that is my theory.

Also, is the moss still dry? Is the whole pot filled with moss? Does the water just run off the moss when you water? If so, you might either soak the pot in some water for an hour or so to rehydrate the moss or add a drop of dish soap to your watering can to rewet the moss otherwise you have the problem Cynthia mentions...

[jerrymeola]

The plant has a saucer under it so if the water ran out it still will have soaked back up later. Actually I like saucers on Phals

The sphag looks too loose to have ever been terribily dry

In either event Jennifer should know how it looked when she got home.