Fungus or pests on lycaste and catasetum?

[hypostatic]

Hey, so I noticed this on one of my catasetums, and on my lycaste. Any ideas what it is?

lycaste:



catasetum:



---------- Post added at 10:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------

oh, and also, how should I treat it?

[Roberta]

Check for spidermites (which love thin-leaved plants). As leaves age on such plants (that are eventually deciduous), mine tend to look like that without bugs... they just get ugly leaves, so it could just be that, unless you can actually find something on the undersides of the leaves causing issues, likely nothing to treat.

[hypostatic]

hmm the catasetum in particular is pretty early in the growth cycle. Neither plant has really formed a bulb yet.

[Roberta]

Thin leaves, spidermites are always suspect... a good spraying with something that has a miticide in it would be a consideration. Or just some neem oil (with a bit of soap) will knock things down for a bit - if you can't identify a pest so that a suitable treatment can be used.

[estación seca]

I would agree, advanced spider mite attack. Whenever you see the slightest thing wrong with leaves on thin-leaved orchids, look carefully for spider mites.

[hypostatic]

Welp, I'll break out the insecticide then.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by hypostatic

Welp, I'll break out the insecticide then.

Remember, mites are arachnids, not insects. If you have a pesticide such as Bayer's Advanced 3-in-1, it does include a miticide as well as insecticide, though in small amount. A miticide is what is needed... insecticides aren't particularly lethal to mites.