Is my orchid dead? Advice please

[Jeska]

I have/had a beautiful pink indoor orchid which I put in the conservatory (as the label said that was the best place for it) I have never owned an orchid before so just followed the instructions that came with the plant. However, when I returned home the flowers had wilted and the leaves and stems had gone darker and wrinkled, all within less than 24 hours. After reading up on the internet I fear it may be sunburt! The plant was so healthy before but now I am at a loss of what to do with it as it looks dead. Can anyone give me any advice?

[BGGraham1]

Can you post some pictures? It would be helpful so everyone can see what you are describing. If this is your first time, you will need to make 4 more posts to add pics.

Oh, and

[-k-]

Do you know what type of orchid you have? That will help to identify what may have happened to your plant, photos certainly help if your able to post some.

Indoor orchid that you placed in the " conservatory" for less than 24 hrs...that's not a danger signal, it will be sunburnt if you directly exposed it to the sun outdoors from 11am to 3 pm( where the sun is at it's peak in this summer heatwave) but it won't die...when did you water it? How many days is it in your possession? The rule of thumb is you can return it in a week if it dies on you. Orchids with full bloom lasts for months if you bought it healthy...provided you water it correctly. You can even forget to water it for a week and it still won't die...if you bought it a week ago...and it does as you described....chances are you got a dying orchid already...return it to the store.

[Dendian]

Hello and to Geeks.

I would like to know a bit more information. How big is the Conservatory? Is it outside and full glass? How hot does it get in there during the daytime? Is there any shade on the top to keep the noon-day sun out?

I seem to recall a few years ago we had somebody from the UK who put their orchid in their glassed in Gazebo and toasted it. It was against one glass wall on the hottest side and it got too hot. However - I think it was a Cattleya, and they can survive if the rhyzome is still alive.

I would also like to know what kind of orchid it was? The most common house Orchid is Phalaneopsis - but they do not like to be in a lot of sun, so the directions you were given sound a bit strange if that's what it was.

Pictures of the orchid and the conservatory would help...

Thanks Dian...WOW...the conservatory you described is like a magnifying glass between the sun and the plant...that would fry the orchid in an hour...hopefully it's not dead...the roots might give a new leaf if given proper care.