What on earth is wrong with this miltoniopsis?
 

A lady brought this to me and said it looked fine 6 days ago. At first I thought it was sun damage and then I thought maybe fungal. The roots seemed to be dead or dying. Attachment 85709 I threw it out in case it was a virus or something contagious. Attachment 85708Attachment 85710Attachment 85711
The roots are dry in the picture because I took the picture a few hours after I threw it in the can.
I am just curious as to what it may be.
Thanks guys
Karl

Bump...

Sunburn maybe?? :dunno: I'd like to know as well... For curiosity's sake ;)

looks like it was watered, then set in the sun to sunburn....water reflects the sun and burns like blazes....

I think it might have been poor/inconsistent culture, at least in the weeks/months leading up to its current state. If you look at some of the (dried out) leaves, they are pleated.

ETA: maybe not, the pbulb looks nicely plump.

milts go rapidly downhill if exposed to temps above 80f+ for at least a week. Could that have happened, together with being in direct sun for any time ? They are one of the most difficult orchids to grow well if cultural conditions aren't just right.

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Over watering. Then left to dry out. The roots became dry and the leaves dried out where they rotted. And the leaves look like they were in way too much light. The color should be deeper green. The pleating on the leaves is indicative of poor watering. Just poor culture especially being a milt. This plant is still a very viable plant as the pbulbs are still in good shape. I would pot it in a medium media like bark with some sponge rock. Water it and then leave it alone until it grows new buds from the base of the old growth. The existing pbulbs will push new growth and sustain it until the new growth produces their own root system. Keeping the old pbulbs roots just barely damp, then allowing them to dry out will keep this going. Keep it warm but phal level light. Or send it to me.

Hello all. Thanks for the responses. That all makes sense. unfortunatly I work at a nursery and threw the plant out immediatly for fear of some sort of pathogen. You guys are great and I have definetly learned more from this board that any other resourse.