Unknown markings on Paph. leaves

[PhoenixFlowers]

Hi everyone! I am still really new to orchids, and I need help. I have two paphiopedilums and they both have these markings on their leaves. Is it dehydration or something of the sort? Weather hasn't been too crazy lately and humidity has been I'd say around 70% on average. One of the orchids I got only a week ago and when I got it it didn't have these markings. Both are potted in bark with perlite. Info would be greatly appreciated

[aliceinwl]

Any chance it could have been sun burned?

[SouthPark]

Where are they growing? Outdoors? Semi-outdoors? Got good air-circulation?

I don't think dehydration causes that kind of effect.

[Ray]

Are you watering with cold water and wetting the leaves when you do?

[PhoenixFlowers]

My first one was kept outside for a while when I first got it, and unfortunately it did burn, so that's what I guessed these were from. But then my second paph was always indoors. I keep them inside underneath a pretty weak lamp. Now, the bulb isn't LED (I've meaning to switch it) so it does produce heat, but underneath the bulb has never gotten noticeably hot. I water the plants with lukewarm water and make sure not to wet the leaves.

[IngieBee]

I had blistering which looked similar which I attributed to too much water in too cold a climate (it was50's to low 60's and I don't think they could take so much water??). I blistered some Catasetums as well, but they didn't spread. One of my phals turned to rot, and quickly spread. I didn't cut enough the first time, and I thought I lost her, because my second cut had to reach deep into her core, but she pulled through and already has 2 new leaves and a sh*t ton of new roots in 3 months! LOL

Anyways, it's been warmer lately, so that's not likely the problem .. is it wet like the effected part turned to liquid? That's what my phals did, and something else could have been the culprit. Maybe it's just over-watering period.

[PhoenixFlowers]

I've only watered my second paph once. It's been 80-90 degrees. The effected areas aren't wet at all. I'll cut down on watering and see if that helps a bit. Thanks!

[Roberta]

One thing that comes to mind... bush snails are too little to make holes, but they "skim" the cuticle off of leaves. One thing, Paphs don't like to dry out. But if you flush water through the medium, and anything crawls out, you'd have an idea what you might be dealing with.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

One thing that comes to mind... bush snails are too little to make holes, but they "skim" the cuticle off of leaves.

Definitely plausible. Some kind of animal shaving or grazing off a top layer is something worth looking into.

[PhoenixFlowers]

This is only on my paphs, would those critters affect my other plants? My orchids are in my room, and every watering and every time I see them, the only insect around them are like 2 fungus gnats. If bush snails are to be the problem, how would one go about solving it?