I have not unpotted the orchids but by looking at the roots and kind of poking around they seem alright, not mushy. Heat stress makes sense because they were in a car that was towed for 15 hours in the sun. I did not consider how it might be inside the car. Thanks very much for the help.

I see them any daylight hour I'm outside. Most are green so they blend in well, but some are also shades of tan or gray. Grab your clippers, find one, then carefully, slowly sneak up on the danged thing with the clippers and cut it in half. Sounds gross but it works. Sometimes, you can actually grab them securely with the clippers. Then, you get the pleasure of slipping it under your foot to step on it. Works every time with no damage to the environment or beneficials. Costs no money, either. Kim

Sometimes the best thing to do is consider the problem idiopathic and simply turn to making sure you have the basics covered. You need first, a good soil that offers at least the opportunity for good root health, favorable light levels and temperature range, and a sound nutritional supplementation program. Fortunately for you and your plant, it's the perfect time of year (if you live in the northern hemisphere) to formulate a plan that should turn your plant around and prepare to initiate it. If you get the basics covered and cultural conditions favorable enough that the plant is growing in its 'sweet spot' instead of at the limits of what it was programmed to tolerate, you'll be golden. I'm not offering more because I'm counting on the fact you'll have interest in learning how to provide that sweet spot and will start asking questions. If you're not that interested, I hope you fare well and all your efforts lead to rewards. Al

Did it rain much while you were gone? I just planted an acer griseum recently and have found it to be a very thirsty tree. I have noticed that with a lot of newly planted trees and shrubs, the soil around the plant may be moist but the root ball itself may be very dry. I know this because I use one of those moisture meter probes to check them often.