HELP!!! I think I sundburned my orchid!

[nicole_marie_9]

So I've never had an orchid before and don't really know how to take care of it. I researched some websites and read that orchids like sunlight, except the site didn't mention not to put them in direct sunlight. I had been keeping my orchid in a darker room, shaded by trees outside. I thought I should get it outside for some sun and left it in direct sunlight, on a hot breezy day. A few days later, the leaves started to discolor and dry out and now are falling off. I think I've done o.k. with watering it (only once a week or so) so I don't think that is the problem. Does anyone know how I can bring my plant back to life? I'm not sure what kind of orchid it is, maybe you can tell from the pics. Here are some pics of what the plant looks like now.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2553.jpg - Fallen Leaf
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2554.jpg - Fallen Leaf
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2555.jpg - Fallen Leaf
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2556.jpg - Roots/Leaves
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2558.jpg - Blooms
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2559.jpg - Roots
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2562.jpg - Roots/Leaves
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2564.jpg - Roots/Leaves
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...9/IMG_2567.jpg - Entire Plant

[blackorchid]

Whatever orchid it is, I think that the fact that you've just bring an orchid from a shaded room to full sun for all of a sudden, the plant may not like it that much. Even a high light plants like cattleya can easily burn because of the sudden transition. After you post the picture, we will see if that plant actually need a lot of sun or not. I'm crossing my fingers for you.

[bonsai1504]

what type of orchid is it?

[Swamper]

How do the roots slook? Still some green?

[blackorchid]

Holy....that's a Phalaenopsis orchid, and I don't think it need full sun, that's the orchid that can tolerate very low light. It will be happy if you just put it in a shaded room, or in that bright window in the picture with no direct sun at all (or maybe about an hour). I don't think anything could be done to save that plant. Not only it has bad leaves, it also has bad roots because the potting mix is really decomposing there. Simply saying, if you're new at this, I suggest to buy another plant. Next time, put the new plant where you're putting it in the last picture, it has a little bit of sun, and it's bright, the plant will love it.

[cyberbrat]

Hello nicole_marie_9,

I am sorry to see that you have had such an unfortunate event with your orchid. I can not offer care advice like the gurus on this board but I can offer encouragement.

Don't give up...I lost three last time I tried and stopped for years. I am giving it another go and hope you consider doing the same.



cyberbrat

[kiki-do]

Hi Nicole! Yes, that is a phalaenopsis. It generally likes some light, but not direct light. If it were mine, I would soak it, then take the whole thing out of the pot and gently rid the medium it's in. Then I would look carefully at the roots and if they aren't all mushy and black (cut all mushy and black roots), next I would cut the burnt leaves with a clean sharp knife and put some cinnamon on the cut areas. Then I would "spag & bag" it. You have probably lost this plant, but then I have seen stranger things happen, so it's always worth a shot. Only if you want to spend the time and you have the patience...lots of patience. If you do a search for "spag & Bag" here, you should get all the info you need on how to.
All in all, it's in pretty bad shape....but if it were me, I would first determine if it has that chance at all, then go from there. I recently burned a Cattlyea and cut the leaves that burnt, and it will make it. However, I guess I caught it in time.
Listen, we all have these things happen...every one of us. That is how we learn what to do and what not to do. It happens to the best of us.

[blackorchid]

Oh yeah, if you read my thread on "introduction-break the ice" forum, I said that I killed a Phalaenopsis by letting it bath a "healthy" amount of sunlight at noon lol.....I learnt a lot.
Here's a website that might help you on "sphag and bag"
Sphag-n-Bag
But I've a couple of things to say though.
-remember to squeeze the water out of the moss/paper towel (whichever you are using). In other word, do not put in the bag a wet moss, put in a MOIST moss.
-remember to let the plant totally dry before putting it in the bag.
-remember that after cutting the leaf off, you have to let it heal itself for a day before putting it inside the bag.
That's from my experience, the point is to have a high humidity (~100%), as long as when you see a SLIGHT percipitation, that's means that the humidity has reach 100%, if there's too much precipitation, take the moss out and just bag the plant alone. Do not let the plant touch any thing wet inside the bag. Good luck with your plant.

[blackorchid]

However, I took another look at the picture, I think you have plenty of good root left, just repotting it though, no need for sphag and bag.

[(..._...)]

maybe it will send up a basal keiki? It looks like all the leaves are gone/ completely burnt. hmmmm

like the others said, the roots should be okay

good luck