Question
I had been given a golden treasure phal a month ago and it hasn't done well, i think it may be on it's lastleg. It may have gotten cold shock from when it was purchased to it arriving at the office.  The leaves are bone dry, feels like sandpaper, I can feel the veins.  Leaves look light yellowy-whitish green underneath and dark purple brownish black on top. There were 3 big leaves and a little one, the little one came of last week. The crown has been kept dry, it is mainly a healthy green with a little bit of brighter purple.  The flowers were dead and the plant was getting worse so i was told to cut it one node up from the crown.  I really don't think I am under watering it, the soil is moist but not wet. The temperature is within range, maybe 23 degrees celius.  I believe it is medium lighting, indirect fairly bright lighting.  It is in a clear plastic pot.  The roots sitting on top are white and pretty firm, the ones in the mix are a healthy green and not mushy at all.  Please let me know if you can't see the pic,
Thanks very much!
Oh and incase you haven't guessed, this is my first orchid ; )

Answer
Hello Ricki,

From your description on the condition of your phalaenopsis, it does sound like it is on its last leg.  

Leaves that become wrinkly or veined are due to a lack of water in them.  The leaf color does not sound normal, yellow-whitish green underneath and dark purple brownish black on top.  Brownish black on top could be caused by over exposure to direct sunlight and it caused sunburn.  The leaf underside color is a bit perplexing as I have never seen this on any phal in combination with the top color.  I have seen this as an overall color on a leaf exposed to too much sunlight.  

I'm afraid this web site does not allow posting a photo within a message.  But, if you have a photo sharing web page, you can send the link to a photo and I can access it that way.  

Sorry I cannot be of more help at this time but if you will write back with the link to the photos, that will help in identifying what is going on with it.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.