I have 2 orchids, a phal my roommate bought me about 2 years ago when I didn't know anything about orchids and I nearly killed it...and I saved a Cattleya from clearance at Lowes last year. I read every book the library had about orchids and both were doing extremely well.
My roommate and I just went to a BBQ last weekend, and the people there have like 30 different orchids all growing outside. The wife tells me she's been growing orchids for about 15 years, and that my orchids should be outside for the summer.
Wanting to do right by the orchids, I followed her advice. I set them up with a sheet overhead to block the strong rays of the sun. I checked on them a few times, and they seemed to be doing good, so I left them out there for the day thinking the sun and heat would be good for them. When I brought them back in a few hours later they didn't look good, and the Cattleya had black spots on it. I looked it up online...sunburn!
Now I feel horrible, like I stuck them in the microwave. My roommate says, "consider it a learning experience", but I feel like I'm torturing them.
the one my roommate got me, all the leaves are all wilted and droopy now
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and the Cattelya leaves are about 25% black.
I don't know if they have enough to bounce back...or if I just killed them. I don't know what to do to save them, and I'm afraid anything I do will make it worse.