Problem with a Phalaenopsis - What to do?
 

Good morning! I am having problem with my Phalaneopsis orchid leaves. I very stupidly took it outside and accidently left it out there and it got burnt. Now parts of the leaves are leathery and mushy. This seems to be growing and affecting the parts of the leaves that are solid. Should I trim this mushy/leathery part off? Would that stop it from killing the rest of the leaf? Or have I just done this plant in. Any recommendations would be most helpful. Thank you so much! I am so excited to be here and learn from you all!

The damage is done, and there is nothing you can - or should - do.

Burns are inherently sterile, and while they may look bad, once the overheated tissues finish collapsing, it will not spread to the rest of the plant. Eventually they will take on a parchment-like appearance, and be a "great" reminder not to do that again!

Eventually the plant will grow new leaves and drop those, eliminating the embarrassing reminder.

Phalaenopsis are shade growing plants. Not deep shade, but bright shade. It shouldn't be getting any direct sunlight at all.

Phals are also for the most part lowland to middle elevation tropical plants. Many of them do not like it cooler than 60 F although some can take it down to 55 F. Temperature highs of about 90 F are ideal but they can handle temperatures up into the hundreds.

They are also slow growing. Phals only put out on average 1 to 2 leaves a year. Occassionally they will grow 3 or 4, but rarely.

Typically, spring is the normal blooming season. Phals in bloom during different times of the year are due to growers forcing the blooms.

Spring and summer are when the heaviest growing occurs. Growth starts slowing down in the fall and may stop during winter (sometimes they grow a little in winter, but not much).

Don't be surprised if your Phal will take up to a year to acclimate before starting to establish itself. Meaning they can, and have been known to not grow at all until around 6 months to a year after initially purchasing it.

A word of advice...

Your Phalaenopsis is not dead until everything, I mean leaves, roots, and flower spike(s), are all dead.

Thank you thank you for your kind replies. I appreciate the reassurance and information. :)