My daughter in law is asking me questions again and I am not sure so I don't want to give her false information. Is this growth going to be a new leaf or is it just new roots??? What is the technical term for it?? Here is a couple of pictures. She is scared to death of killing the orchids I have given her but I think she is doing good.
Yep - that's a new growth! Roots are much different looking and won't have this leafy-look to them. Horticultural people call new growths "leads" but I don't really hear that much on OB...
I saw my first new growth like that on a Dendrobium this year and also had to ask everyone here what it was. It looked just like yours and now it's about 1.5' in lengh and looking very like a new cane.
I have LC. Gold Digger 'buttercup' and 'orchid jungle'. Both get sheaths that brown and dry up and look terrible. Eventually they send up buds through those ugly sheaths and bloom beautifully, so tell your Sister not to worry when it happens to her's.