Question
I have recently been gifted a Large ( over 3 foot tall) orchid, it came with only a small label "pink pearl" no other name, not even sure it belongs to this plant, and the giver of this beautiful plant re-gifted it to me :)  The pressure is on to keep the plant alive, I am hoping I am asking this question soon enough.  I have searched the internet for pictures, and my best guess it is a cymbidium. The flowers look a bit like a stargazer lilly, pink with deeper almost burgandy in them. The orchid is in bark like material with 4 large ( apple size) bulbs above the bark, in a black container that drains from the bottom well, which is what it came from a local greenhouse in, the container is approx 1.5 gallon size.  It has 1 flower stem with 10 blooms on it, approximatly 4 are brown and due to fall off.  My concern is not the loss of bloom, but a problem with the leaves that is concerning me. Each bulb thingy has approxiamatly 8 to 10 long leaves on it, but my problem is they seem to be turning yellow and brown (like they are dying ) from the tip towards the plant bulb.  I live in Michigan, I originally thought it would need transplanted, now I am not sure what it needs, currently in a room facing east, a bit back from a large window, there appears to be no presence of bugs, and the bark mixtures has no odor I can detect.  If it is not 100% apparent already, I have NO orchid experience, but have had success with many other house plants, which is why I was given the plant as the best option of its survival or maybe it is some kind of test LOL. Please give me whatever help you can and thank you in advance  

Answer
Mindy, it certainly sounds like what is called a standard cymbidium. These large standard cymbidiums were the only kind of cymbidium that was available until a couple of decdaes ago when miniature cymbidiums became popular.  It is not unusual to have the leaves turn yellow and fall off.  I recommend that you place the plant outside by a north facing wall.  In a month or two you should see new growth emerging near the base of the pseudobulbs.  At the time of this emergence you may repot the plant in an orchid bark mix which you can find in any garden center that carries orchids or orchid supplies.  In repotting, be careful not to damage the new growth.  Wash all of the old potting mix off the roots and remove any "mushy" roots.  Good roots are firm and will be the basis for new vigorous growth.  Once you have repotted as described you will want to water it copiously and feed it at every watering.  The buds set during cold nights so it needs to stay outside when temps are in the 40's.  When frost threatens, bring it inside until the threat passes and put it back outside.  Ideally, when you finally must bring it inside for the late fall, it should be kept as cool as possible.

I wish you well and let me know how things are going in a month or two.

Ps  I checked on the name of the plant and there is a cymbidium with the name Pink Pearl and the hybrid was registered in 1936.