Question
I have a beautiful hanging basket with three spikes and eleven different faded purple with darker purple dots on the inner ruffle of a very brilliant white outer bloom. It is very aromatic only after the sun falls... Like an evening blooming jasmine... AND new this year. It is 5 years old. However I have moved from Sarasota Florida area to Charleston S.C. and it is looking a little rough... The leaves are green and the blooms are great,,, but the tips of some foilage are yellow with big black spots... I am terriblly concerned because I have two really nice Catties and quite a few phallies. I moved with me and a Shamb...Catt hybrid and I dearly love...not to mention it was costly.... but if I have a fungus I am worried not wanting to have to start over....I can send pics if it would help...please help.... THANK YOU.....

Answer
BoDean, you didn't mention whether, and when, you last repotted. You also didn't mention what type of orchid it is or if it has a name. If a minicattleya (it sounds like a brassavola== cattleya hybrid).  Brassavolas are night fragrant and this is imparted to its hybrids. Brassavola nodosa also has purple spots in the lip and that is passed on to its progeny so that leads me further to believe that your minicatt is a Brassavola nodosa hybrid. The yellow foliage tips suggest a problem with the potting mix (especially if it hasn't been repotted in a ccouple of years).  When the potting mix breaks down it tends to hold moisture longer and can lead to the black spots. I would cut out sections of the leaves that have the black spotting to prevent spread and, when new growth starts, repot in fresh orchid potting mix in a container that drains well. I prefer to grow my brassavola species and hybrids in a potting mix that contains some inorganic ingredients such as charcoal or lava rock (pieces 1/2 inch or less).  Feel free to send the pictures which may confirm my suspicions.

Since you are new to the South Carolina area you might enjoy visiting Carter and Holmes Orchids in Newberry.  They have been in the orchid business for several generations, are very nice people, and would be happy to provide advice and plants that should do well in South Carolina.