Is this Potinara Lila Ashitomi looking okay?

[MateoinLosAngeles]

I recently purchased this Potinara Lila Ashitomi "Hawaiian Flare" among other orchids in a big online order. Overall my order looked good but there was something "off" about this Potinara. I didn't buy a plant in bloom, however, it arrived with a flower and bulb.

The bulb got busted within 4 days after arriving, falling off on its own. The flower is slowly fading and looks as below.

What is throwing me off is some leaves look a little wrinkly. One in particular has some very light yellow spotting. My first thought was dehydration and perhaps cold damage that could also have given that black tint to the flower. I haven't repotted it yet and it came in a black pot so I'm not sure how the root system is looking like but I'm not seeing any new growths and the few roots that I can see look rather dead.

Finally, there's a little white cast on the leaves that genuinely looks like hard water residue, but after two cleanings with distilled water, they don't go away. There's some white at the base of the pseudobulbs which I'm pretty sure it's the leftover of old sheath. But am I wrong? Is this potentially scale, either new or old? Is there anything we can identify that could've happened to this orchid or does it look good to you?

I really like this seller and I don't think they tried to rip me off but I also know they haven't been in business for too long and might have done something wrong. The media looks really fresh which makes me worry they repotted off-season this fall and by now the plant might not have any viable roots until it grows new ones in spring.

Any observations on your end would be really appreciated!

[Ray]

Looks to me like it needs more water. I'd check the condition of the root system.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

I agree with Ray. Check the roots first. Then go from there.

[Roberta]

I agree with the others, it looks dehydrated. As far as the hard water scale is concerned, plain water isn't going to remove it... sometimes a mix of milk and water 1:1 will clean it up. (People use that mix to shine leaves for plants being exhibited in shows). Or a little diluted lemon juice if that doesn't work. (The citric acid in the orange juice is also a chelating agent, that can help clean up the calcium deposits)

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by Ray

Looks to me like it needs more water. I'd check the condition of the root system.

I finally got around repotting this orchid, the root system was a complete mush...

Will be applying inverted bag and kelpak and see if I'm able to save it.

Would you use bottom heat on a Cattleya to speed up root recovery?

[estación seca]

Would you use bottom heat on a Cattleya to speed up root recovery?

Most definitely yes. Cattleya rooting occurs in response to humidity around the rhizome, not moisture in the medium, and the calendar. Many hybrids may root at any time of the year, but others have fixed rooting seasons. If you can keep it very humid and warm, with good light, it may produce more growth and more roots. You might have to wait months for root growth.

If you choose to set it on top of sphagnum moss, or something similar, inside some kind of enclosure, make sure the medium is not wet, just barely moist. It should not feel wet. You are using the medium to raise the humidity around the rhizome, not keep it wet. Another approach is to set a vessel of water inside an enclosure, with the rhizome resting on the surface of some kind of dry medium.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Many hybrids may root at any time of the year, but others have fixed rooting seasons.

Crossing fingers here that this being considerably hybridized will help. The plant just lost its flower and luckily I can see fresh roots starting to grow from the youngest pseudobulb. Hoping I can provide the conditions for these to not abort.

I usually grow my Cattleyas and Brassavolas in bark and in baskets and they do quite well. Was planning to keep the setup and simply add a bag on top to reduce water loss/increase humidity, and water it more frequently. I haven't really had to deal with a rootless Cattleya before, only Phals, so I might try placing the basket on some sort of tray...

[ArronOB]

Could you please provide a photo of the underside of the leaf in photo 5 .

I want to compare it to some of my own with similar top pattern.
Cheers
Arron