Question
I Purchased a huge pink and white Cymbidium about 8 weeks ago . i placed it in my living room which is not the warmest room in the the house but it certainely isnt cold. I did not place it in direct sunlight but not far away from the window?

I bought some orchid plant food which I have given it and followed the care intructions, however, the long green leaves are turning brown and all the flowers are falling off. What shall I do? HAVE i KILLED IT?

Answer
Kirsty. not to worry about the flowers.  While cymbidium flowers are long lasting, they seldom last more than 2 months-- so this is normal. The browning of the leaves, however, is a different matter and suggests some possible root rot.  Your plant should be repotted now that flowering has finished.  You will need to purchase enough fir bark based orchid potting mix to permit repotting of this plant.  You also. may need a pot about 2-3 inches larger in diameter.  Soak the new potting mix while unpotting your plant.  Rinse the plant's roots off thoroughly to remove most of the old potting mix.  You may find some "mushy" roots that are dead and these should be removed.  Also, remove any pseudobulbs that are soft before repotting. The leaves that are turning brown will fall off naturally.  Usually, the root rot sets in when the potting mix is old and has decomposed.  It then retains much of the water when watering rather than letting it drain out of the potting mix.  The fresh potting mix should permit the water to drain more freely when watering and permits more air to get to the roots. If possible, after repotting, set the plant in a semi-shaed location and gradually move it to brighter and brighter light for maximum growth. As it gradually acclimates to brighter light, it may be possible to move it into full sun for late summer to earl fall growth. As you see new growth coming, feed and water it heavily early in the day.  It tolerates temperatures into the 40's and sets its buds in the fall when the cooler temperatures stimulate bud formation for reflowering next spring. These cymbidiums are referred to as "standard cymbidiums" and want a combination of bright light and cool temperatures during late fall and winter.  It is possible to divide large plants into 2 or more smaller plants to be potted into separate pots.  If there is a name tag in the pot, be sure to keep that as it identifies the plant and enables tracing the plant's lineage back to parents, grandparents, etc..