Browning and yellowing leaves

[Jeanr]

Hello,

I'm very new to this and looking for help please. I got a beautiful gift of two orchids. Within days one of the plants leaves are looking terrible and I don't know how to save it. I've not over watered, it was near heat and I'm worried that's what's caused it. I would appreciate some guidance if possible.

Many thanks,
Jean.

[rbarata]

Well, it's really in a bad shape.
I can see some leaves that look healthy. Are they from the same plant?

Now, a couple of questions. How do you water it? From above? By soaking?

Do you have it on a window sill? If so, how far from the glass?

What are your out and indoor temperatures (approx. is enough)?

[Ray]

It looks like a combination of things to me.

That spot on the large leaf to the right is likely old sunburn damage, and the rest of the damage looks like it froze.

I still see some green, and hope that is another plant in the pot, for it is likely that larger plant is a goner, and there is nothing you can do to correct it.

[Optimist]

It would not take 2 days from looking "normal" to looking like they look in your photograph. I think something like this could have happened during transportation: The orchids (phalaenopsis) were left in a car, or they got sunburned through being put outside, or they got too cold. I do not know what your climate is or has been in Ireland, but something happened to the leaves before you got them, (or at the store). And then, as they sat in your house, their cells started to die, making you think it was something you did. Phalaenopsis orchids cannot take direct light for extended periods, and they also are very temperature sensitive.

Was it cold 2 days ago? (Or when this happened?)

[Ben_in_North_FLA]

looks lke it was cooked by either hot or cold....find the nearest trash can and move on...buy another 10$ dollar phal

[Jeanr]

Thank you all for your responses.

I got a bit of courage after reading these and decided to take them back to the florist (after finding out where they came from). Florist was so nice and agreed they didn't get into that state in a couple of days and she immediately replaced the bad one. I was delighted.

I am keeping it on my kitchen window sill, it's been zero degrees here most days. She warned me not to over water also. Hopefully this will be a good second start.

[rbarata]

Don't water from above (avoid letting water get into the crown) and don't put it too near the window glass (temps there are much colder than room temp).

[Merita]

If the roots are healthy, I would cut all the leaves and seal with cinnamon the healthy part of the crown, watered normally when the plant needs it and wait patiently for a keiki to emerge. This I saved her for being a sentimental memory

[estación seca]

There is a sticky thread here on Orchid Board that teaches how to care for Phals. Click Forums in the left yellow menu, then Beginners. Look near the top for The Phal abuse ends here.