Question
i have had a phalaenopsis orchid for 2 months, it was full of flowers since the moment i got it and coninued to bloom until suddenly one day all the flowers faded at once and the leaves became yellow and they fell. i thought that it was time for the orchid to sleep. but now i see that my flower's roots are becoming yellow and i think it will die. can you tell me what the problem is?? i have my flower near a big east window, i live in a hot place and i water it once every five days.

Answer
Hello Konstantina,

From your description of what has happened, it may be that your phalaenopsis orchid is dying but I hope not.  Flowers dying and falling off is normal but all the leaves yellowing and falling off is not normal.  

While I cannot be certain, I believe some water had gotten on the leaves when you watered and a fungus may have grown and infected your phal.  This can especially happen if you water late in the day with not enough time for the water to evaporate before nightfall.  

The east window is a good location to grow phalaenopsis but it should also have some air movement in the location.  Air movement around orchid plants is very important, they all originated outdoors where they were subjected to breezes.  

Hope this was of some help.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.