Issues with Phal Bellina leaves, black edges dry?

[krienschmidt]

Hi Everyone, My next orchid issue..... I have a Phal Bellina that I don't like the looks of it's leaves. They are still firm and wavy, but also looking dry, light yellow tint and dry rough edges, even black edges in some areas. I have had the plant for 1 1/2 years, it bloomed wonderfully last year and has two nice flower spikes and flower this year, but have never had issues with the leaves before. South window, on and off sun 4 to 5 hours a day. Too much sun? Fertilizer burn? It hurts to look at those leaves, my other Bellina is perfect, they hang right next to each other. Any ideas??? As always thank you for your time and help.

Barb

[jkofferdahl]

Can you supply a few pictures so we can see what's up?

[NYCorchidman]

I wouldn't say sunburn because of your description.
Fertilizer burn can be a possibility although the other one is fine and you have them both under the same care, right?
So that might not be it, either.

Photos will be more helpful.

I hate sick leaves of any kind. I like them all perfectly clean and green.

[krienschmidt]

Here's the photo.

[Roberta]

It almost looks like something is munching on the leaves. Have you looked underneath the leaves for signs of insects, mite, etc? Or even tiny bush snails that hide in the media (sometimes they make themselves visible if the pot is heavily drenched with water)

[krienschmidt]

Nasty critters is a good guess. I repotted both of them a couple weeks ago and did not see any slugs in the soil. So they have all new media and the problem was there before I repotted. Looked under the leaves and did not see any signs of mites but then I have never seen any before so I wouldn't know the signs. No fuzzy white webbing going on. Anyway I am going to start here. Trimmed off the ragged edges, treated both plants with a systemic pesticide, will continue treating every couple weeks, watch and wait. Thank you for the suggestion!

[NYCorchidman]

No idea, but it does look like something was munching along the edge of the leaves.
Cockroach can eat orchid leaves, but not along the edge like this.

hmm no idea.

[Bulbopedilum]

It does look like bite marks! Try looking into the orchid for caterpillars, mites, snails, or slugs. For snails and slugs I suggest dunking the orchid in water, they will usually make themselves visible. As for caterpillars and mites you'll have to inspect the orchid thoroughl, which is a pain if you have those big clumps. I often just spray with water and dry up the rot-prone areas. I also heard that some ants do this, in that case, they will most likely be nested in the media, and dipping the pot in water will flood the nest, forcing the ants to come out.

[Roberta]

Hopefully, repotting in fresh media does it... some of the nasties really hide. (For instance, bush snails are tiny, like 1/8" (0.3 cm) or less, and hide in the media, like moist places and not easily killed even with snail bait) I know one (now rather elderly) grower who insists that there are two kinds of orchid growers... those who have bush snails and those that need new glasses. So not seeing them doesn't mean that they're not there.

[SaraJean]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Hopefully, repotting in fresh media does it... some of the nasties really hide. (For instance, bush snails are tiny, like 1/8" (0.3 cm) or less, and hide in the media, like moist places and not easily killed even with snail bait) I know one (now rather elderly) grower who insists that there are two kinds of orchid growers... those who have bush snails and those that need new glasses. So not seeing them doesn't mean that they're not there.

Ugh. Truth. Bush snails nearly demolished my bulbo collection last year. All those tender little roots were like a Popeyes buffet for them.

Definitly repot and you could also check your orchids at night. That's when little munchers seem to be most active