I'm no expert on orchids because I am a beginner as well but maybe it is too chilly in the office? Is it near an air vent? how cold is it in the office? Good luck!
and yes, it is a phalaenopsis.

This post was edited by pumpkineater2 on Fri, Aug 2, 13 at 18:47

It reminds me of fertilizer burn. Are you putting fertilizer on it. If not sure looks like some kind of chemical burn.

Cathy

I have not put any fertilizer on it at all since I received it but it does seem to look like a burn doesn't it? Possibly from the place it came from or maybe pumpkineater is right about the cold - they tend to crank the air conditioning in here at times although I don't keep the plant near the vent.

As I said the base roots seem to be doing great and the spikes too so I guess I can only keep going as I have been but the brown seems to be growing to the roots on the other side so I'm worried I should be changing something but not sure what :(

What is it potted in? How often are you watering? Phals are warm growing plants and it might be too cold (Pumpkineater might be right). How much light are they getting? Only artificial light?

You need to give more information and some pics of the pots and the whole plants.

Jane

Hi Jane thank you for posting a comment. I am in Mass and while it is quite hot here now the plant is inside and sometimes the boss turns the air conditioning on so much that I have to turn on my space heater - in August!

It is growing in bark - I've attached a pic. They are mostly getting artificial light but I do put it next to the window a couple days a week when it's cloudy (otherwise it would be direct harsh sunlight all day).

Do you think it could be the air conditioning or the all fluorescent lighting? I'm using no chemicals or fertilizer or anything other than watering and the brown still continues to "grow".

I have a phal that gets those marks on the roots, even as they stay healthy and continue to grow! It happens both on old and new roots. As with your plant, the roots in the pot are healthy and bright. I have ruled out fertilizer burn, and thought maybe sunburn or fungus gnat damage, though AC in the office being too cold could be the culprit! Try to keep the plant away from any direct drafts.

As for the leaves, it's possible it's just time for that leaf to go. I've read that plants like to keep only a certain number of leaves, so if a new leaf is growing in, the oldest one will die off (do not remove it, let it fall off on it's own). However, if it's happening on multiple leaves, I hope someone else here has a suggestion. The rest of the plant looks otherwise very happy!

Could you post a photo of the whole plant? The roots look good to me but I can't see the other leaves. That would be helpful.

Looks like the plant probably needs repotting. Can you bring it home and repot into fresh mix?

Jane