Question
I have a Cambria orchid I bought from the supermarket. The label tells me its a hybrid but not of what. Its been looking distictly peaky for a few months and I've just noticed the last leaf not to turn yellow and drop off has started to droop. I may well have been watering it too much and I have moved it around the room nervously trying to find out if it prefers shade or not. Apparently it needs light but not direct light and I don't know how to achieve this. My windows do face the wrong way but I have put up sheer curtians. I have an Oncidium I've treated in exactly the same way and bought at the same time and it looks very happy. I supose my question is does my orchid want more sun or less and is there a way I can save it? I would be so grateful for your advise!!!

Answer
Cecily, the full name of your plant is Vuylstekeara Cambria.  Vuylstakeara (Vuyl) is an intergeneric hybrid formed from the genera Cochlioda, Miltonia, and Odotoglossum. Unlike your Oncidium, this a regarded as a cool growing plant. Day time temperatures should be 60-65 degrees except on sunny days (when exposed to sunshine) when the temperture can eceed 70 degrees.  Night time temperatures should be 45-55 degrees.  If you have a place where you can put it outside out the direct high noon sun that should be fine except on very hot days when it should be brought in.

I believe your potting mix has deteriorated and produced root rot which is likely to be responsible for poor appearance of the plant.  Locate a bag of orchid potting mix and soak it while you are removing the plant from its pot.  Wash the roots off and remove any that are srtringy or mushy as these are dead. Repot the plant in a clean pot just large enough for the root mass and set the plant int the pot. Then add the wet fresh orchid potting mix and tamp the pot to settle the mix,  Repeat until the pot is full to about two inches below the top.  If you notice a number of rotted roots after unpotting, these are responsible for the poor condition of the plant.  Parts of the plant served by the dead roots will not recover, but fresh potting mix will allow the plant to develop new roots and leaves and start the plant on the road to recovery.  

Your plant is a thin leaved variety so in exposing it to sun do it very gradually so as to avoid sunburn.  Recommend morning sunlight if you have it.