Wilted & Discolored/Burned leaves on Phal

[sunstar93]

Apologies in advance for a long post!!
I am relatively new to keeping orchids and received a beautiful Phal (no ID) from my boyfriend in August of last year. It survived a move to my new apartment and during the fall, it was very healthy. However, in the last few weeks, it has slowly been declining.

I first noticed that after putting up new curtains in the living room, it was not getting as much sunlight as it used to. (I have a large south facing window and would open the blinds a little during the day and that would be enough.) Last week the leaves looked a little wilted, so I set it on my patio to get some sun for a little bit, intending to bring it in after a couple of hours. However...I forgot about it and it ended up spending all day in the sun and the tips of both leaves burned to brown.

I thought that maybe they leaves were still wilting due to overwatering/drowned roots so I threw out the old potting media and replaced it with new dry media and waited a week before watering it a little again (and being more mindful of when I water). Then, I tried to set it on its usual spot on the coffee table and open the blinds on my back door so it could get some bright/indirect sun that way, but I don't believe it is receiving enough because the leaves have started to yellow in the last couple of days. I am worried that if I begin to open the blinds again like I did before (which I probably should have just done in the first place) I will end up doing more harm than good.

In short...I am worried that I am doing all of the wrong things despite trying to researching what to do with it. I'm trying my best to save it but I'm afraid to try anything else, in fear of killing it. Is there anything I should be doing to get this poor thing healthy again?
Any help is greatly appreciated!

[voyager]

Hi,
Is it possible that leaf was up against a cold window pane?
That would be my first guess.
It makes me think of cold damage to the leaf.
The yellowing might be more of a sign that it was getting too much light.
Phals and their brethren are normally low light plants growing in shaded to dappled light locations.
Morning sun in an East facing window could fill its needs.

You're in Texas.
It doesn't get all that cold there normally.
But, they do not have to freeze to be cold damaged.
Some cold weather has moved across the mainland, West to East, recently.

[sunstar93]

It usually sits on a coffee table and isn't up against the window. Though it may have been chilly the day I put it outside (I can't remember)- I didn't even think of that!

What other suggestions do you have for the light- should I keep the window slightly open or let it get some shade for now? I only have 2 windows in my apartment and they face south (college apartment) but that is a good idea!

[No-Pro-mwa]

It does look like sun burn to me but the middle leaves look good. Just make sure it gets bright indirect light and let it be. wait until those leaves ( and they will turn yellow) get dry than take them off. The middle ones will be fine.

Then go up to the sticky's at the top of this thread and read the phal abuse ends here. You don't have to read all of it but you will get some good advice.

And welcome to the board.

[sunstar93]

Thankfully the middle ones are still in good condition! I must confess that I have a bad habit of messing with the plants too much instead of leaving them alone- that probably explains why I haven't had luck with plants before (not even aquarium ones lol).
I will read the sticky as well! I started reading it last night and it is very helpful.
Thank you so much!

[No-Pro-mwa]

Not to worry, I mess with mine also. I like to poke at them.

[Leafmite]

Good luck with it!

To help you stop messing with the plants, you should get a bunch more so you don't have the time to focus on the few.

[estación seca]

If you tie mittens on your hands it is harder to fuss with them.

[Helene]

Originally Posted by estación seca

If you tie mittens on your hands it is harder to fuss with them.

Lol 😂

But its so darn tempting to just touch them a tiny bit😜

[bil]

If the area is hard and dry, it's most likely sunburn. If it is soft and/or wet, then it is probably a bacterial/fungal attack, possibly brought on by being chilled

If the latter cut the leaf off making sure you remove it all, and dust the cut surface with a fungicidal powder, or cinnamon powder.