Need help fast

[Pensacola Eric]

I gave my Mother in Law a Phal. for Mother's Day and gave her strict instructions about watering. She totally misunderstood and has pretty much killed the thing (overwatered) in two months. The leaves are gone and the roots don't look good either (mostly brown/black). The weird thing is that the flowers still look fine and the stem where the flowers grow on is still green. Anything I can do to try to save the thing? Do I need to cut the stem where the flowers are or just leave it. I am willing to do anything to save this Phal. because the flowers are very pretty (multicolored yellow and pink).

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

When you say the leaves are gone, do you mean that literally, or just that they are desiccated? If truly no leaves and no roots, the plant is gone. If there is at least one leaf left, you can shag and bag it (zip it up in a ziplock bag with a little mostly wrung out moss) with a little rooting hormone on the base of the plant, keep it out of direct light and just wait for roots to grow or the leaves fall off or turn yellow, at which time it can be tossed. Cut off the spike with a sterilized tool first. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

[Pensacola Eric]

The leaves are literally gone and the roots are pretty much gone. I guess I'll enjoy the flowers as long as they last. Thanks for the help. At least I didn't pay that much for it ($9).