Phal Orchid suffering from sunstroke

[supersheep]

I think my orchid is suffering from sunstroke! So I'm wondering what I can do to help it recover!

It recently lost its flowers, so I cut of the flower spikes and moved it to a different room - one which is warmer and has more sunlight. I put it on a south west facing windowsill, as this gets more light than its old spot.

I've put an orchid on here last year, through all of summer, and it seemed to thrive. But I think the recent heat wave we've had in the UK has been too much for this orchid. I noticed after a few days the leaves had these very white spots!

I moved it straight away, but now it seems to be very worse for wear. One of the leaves has fallen off, a few others are turning yellow and one is a deep, greeny/brown colour now and very soft to touch. One leaf is still green and firm, apart from a big white spot on it. There was a new leaf coming, but this has just completely shrivelled up!

The crown is looking a bit strange too. Where the roots touch it, they're a strange greeny browny black, but feel firm to touch. Where the base of the leaf which is a funny colour (the greeny brown one) reaches into the crown, it looks almost browny black. I'm worried there might be rot there, but it still feels very firm to touch.

One side of the plant has roots that look very shrivelled up, though they still turned green when I watered the orchid today. The other side has very green, plump and healthy looking roots.

I've attached a couple of pictures to try and help. But I'm not sure what to do for the best with it now. It's a very pretty orchid, so I want to try and save it. But I'm not sure if I need to do anything, or just leave it be.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated!

[CJR66204]

It looks like to me that is whats happing to your Phalaenopsis Orchid is getting both a lot of sun and heat, that can burn Orchid leafs. Phalaenopsis Orchids are more of a low lighted Orchid.. How often do you water?

[supersheep]

I've killed orchids before from overwatering, so I try to not water too often - I usually do it once a week, but in this hot weather I've been doing it a bit more - when the pot feels very light and the roots are silvery looking.

[CJR66204]

Once a week is good, The number one thing you already did it by moving it out of the of full sun, in to more filtered light. I would also say you should try and baby it a little more, It may take it a few weeks to get back to it self. You also may lose some no more of the leaves, But also don't give up hope...

[butterfly_muse]

I did this to one of my phals by accident by placing it on my patio at my old place...Idk what will happen with yours, as mine only had one leaf burn and I was able to just remove that leaf (it started to rot and I cut it before 2ndary infection could move in and infect the whole plant) and keep going...but yours looks like all of its leaves and crown are affected. If it loses its leaves, Idk how it will photosynthesize. But I'm not an expert, so...=\

[supersheep]

Thanks guys. Do you think I should remove the greeny/browny leaf? It's still firmly attached, but I'm worried it may spread infection.

And I'll definitely baby it, but I'm not sure how orchid's liked to be babied. I'd try singing to it, but I think that'd surely kill it! :-)

[Myrle Diefendorf]

I think you should pitch it and start over with a pretty new one, and keep it out of direct sun and drafts, hot or cold.

[NYCorchidman]

Well, the poor thing is badly cooked.
It is still alive and be saved, but I say it will take at least good three years before you see flowers again.
So unless this plant has a special reason to keep, I would say bye, but again, that's a personal choice of course.

Here is how you can save.
First and foremost, move the plant away from where you put before and pick somewhere the sun reaches on in the morning hours. Or keep your plant by window with sheer curtain drawn. Now, there are many types of sheer curtain. You want to pick something not too shady.
Bright, warm, moist conditions are what phals need to grow the fastest, so keep that in mind.

Regarding watering, you don't want to have a fixed schedule of once a week. Check the moisture level inside the pot if you have a clear plastic pot where you can peek the inside easily.
Or lift the pot and feel the weight.
Water your plant good like soaking for a few minutes and drain completely if your plant is in course mix like bark based one.
If in moss, you don't have to soak but drain well.

It will be a long road to full recovery but if you are patient, time will tell.

Good luck!

[Myrle Diefendorf]

If the crown (center growing part) of the plant is dead usually they don't grow back very well. It has good roots and might make an offshoot on the side eventually.

[supersheep]

I definitely want to try and save it. So thanks for the tips.

I've killed so many orchids off already - fingers crossed this one will survive!