Dry/Dead Brown Spots on Orchid Leaves

[Jaaade]

Hi guys. My mom's orchid looks like it's dying or not quite sure what. See attached picture. Anyone know what it is and how we can resolve?
Thanks for the help.

[Jaaade]

From the other threads I've read, it could be that plant is in too cold of an environment. But the images weren't quite the same and wanted to share the actual damage to see if it could be something else.

[Mountaineer370]

That looks like some serious damage and more than what you might expect to see from something like too little water, sunburn, etc. I think we need more information. Since you are wondering if it's too cold, maybe you should tell us what the average day and night temps are. How much light does it get? How often is it watered? It's hard to tell from that one picture, but what kind of a pot is it in, does it have drainage holes, and what kind of a substance is it potted in? Also, how long has your mother had it and how long has it been looking this way?

Sorry for all the questions, but details like this are what will help members here try to figure out what is wrong.

[Mountaineer370]

Jaaade, are you out there? I'm sure there are many members here who would like to help.

[aliceinwl]

It looks like a Phalaenopsis that has been grown too cool for it to tolerate but not cold enough to kill it outright. The media it’s growing in also looks like it could be contributing to the problem.

I’d recommend trying to move it to a location that’s at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I’d also recommend repotting it. The directions and the mix detailed on: Repotting Phalaenopsis (Moth) & Other Monopodial Orchids have worked well for me, but I would not recommend doing any leaf or root cutting.

Once you warm the plant back up, it may start dropping any sick or dying leaves. It’s hard to tell from your picture but it looks like the bases of some of the leaves may be black indicating that they’re no longer viable and may drop. As long as there’s still some healthy tissue in the central stalk it can recover; be prepared for a slow process.

Best wishes with your plant!