Need help desperately

[Junebug]

That's actually a very good looking specimen. The aerial roots look great and I wonder if the plants at this stage have become totally dependent on them. If they have, and the aerial roots are buried in fresh medium you might risk rotting all of them because their accustomed to being exposed to air.

Others might disagree, but I'd unpot the plants and check on the condition of their roots that were buried. If the buried ones have all rotted I'd be inclined to believe that the plants have gone completely aerial, and I'd repot them loosely all together in a large wooden slat basket with large chunks of bark, charcoal, and aerolite. I would not remove the spikes and I'd mist the roots once or twice a day, taking care to avoid watering the crowns.

I would only choose to repot the customary way if there are many viable buried roots. In this scenerio I would remove the spikes to prevent stressing the plant while it adjusts to the new potting medium.

Good luck with whatever method of potting you choose. That bunch of plants is going to look awesome when in bloom.

[johnblagg]

just trim off the bad roots and repot in good medium ...even in bloom it will do ok.

[LadyCM]

This orchid is going to give me a heart attack! I feel like I failed my friend. This is what I discovered today while checking the leaves. Please advise, thanks.

[silken]

Not to worry. It may be a bit of sunburn or it looks like maybe where it is touching the edge of the pot. If you want you could put a dab of cinnamon on them just to be safe and keep an eye on it. I'm not sure how long the plant has been in your care, but it doesn't look like you have failed your friend. And friends understand these things anyways. Leaves that have been around for a while are not going to look perfect. They are subject to the elements in their environment just as we are. They will show signs of age, just as we do

[Lana]

I think you're overreacting a bit Your plant looks really, really gorgeous. You can't expect every leaf to be perfect, and these marks don't look dangerous.

[Jeff9]

You should look at some in situ pictures of orchids and see how damaged some are, this is only a small damaged spot.

[Gin]

Glad you can't see some of mine lolol

[LadyCM]

Yes, probably I'm overreacting. I used to have over 200 orchids around my yard in Puerto Rico and never had them damaged like this one. I couldn't grow much here in Florida. It is so difficult when a dear young friend pass away with cancer and this plant is his legacy to me. I'm terrified of something happening to it. I really appreciate all the help you have given me. Thank you so very much.

[PinkCloud]

I'm so very sorry to hear about your friend passing away. And don't you worry, with a little TLC this Phal will continue to grow and bloom.
It looks like an old plant that has been with your friend for a long time. Don't be terrified of what could happen to it, rather enjoy it as he did. I'm sure your friend didn't want this plant to cause you worry but rather that it would comfort you and bring you joy.
Besides it looks like a real fighter if it has survived this far in a big pot like that and normal soil! I'm sure it will be with you for a very long time!