Help ASAP! - Orchid Board

Loriorchids · #1 07-24-2022, 06:29 PM

Hello everyone,

I went out on vacation for a week and when I return today some of my orchids are looking this way. Before I left they were watered, not too much, four days later someone came and water them again. And today I come in and they look this way.
They were healthy before I left (so I think). I re-potted some because I saw what looked like flies in my house and thought they might have gnats.
I didn’t see any flies coming out of them, but I did see some white little animals on the soil when I took them out, so I repotted those and cut any rotten roots.
Also, someone came in today before I made it home and watered them again.
Note: the one that has a leaf cut, had a leaf rot when I put it outside for rain and forgot to dry the leaves and they git the dark spots.

Could this mean an infection, if so, what can I do to save them!

Thank you!

Roberta · #2 07-24-2022, 07:10 PM

Looks to me a lot like sunburn. Were they moved to a different location before you left? It only takes minutes, or even less, to toast leaves. Don't cut if there is any green, the leaf can still photosynthesize, it's not contagious even if ugly. Eventually it will grow new leaves and eventually shed the old ones, you'll just have to look at the toasted ones for a few years while it's doing so...

rbarata · #3 07-24-2022, 07:12 PM

I agree with Roberta...looks like sunburn.

estación seca · #4 07-24-2022, 07:30 PM

Agree. Were they inside or outside? What were the temperatures where they were?

Roberta · #5 07-24-2022, 07:48 PM

Even if not terribly hot, if it got a blast of direct sun that could do it. It's leaf temperature in that spot than ambient temperature that's critical.

Loriorchids · #6 07-24-2022, 08:44 PM

Hello!
They were inside the home with AC at 72 degrees. They have been there always. Not sure why they would get sun burn now. We live in Florida.

Those black circles with white? Does that elan sunburn as well?
I attached two more pictures.

Roberta · #7 07-24-2022, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loriorchids

Hello!
They were inside the home with AC at 72 degrees. They have been there always. Not sure why they would get sun burn now. We live in Florida.

Those black circles with white? Does that elan sunburn as well?
I attached two more pictures.

Sure looks like sunburn. Note that the leaf under the bad one shows some evidence of burning a the tip but much less, and most of the lower leaf (which is covered by the one above) is fine. At some part of the day the sun may have come directly in the window. Wind could have blown a tree branch out of the way, Or some other way an area that is usually shaded got a blast. Or just seasonal sun shift. I have had that experience... in my greenhouse I had a situation where I got sunburn on a plant in a particular position. I couldn't see how it could happen. Then one day I happened to be in there and caught it in the act - normally the roof provides some shading but it was a warmer-than-usual morning and the vent opened earlier than usual, the sun was just at the right angle to hit that open spot and hit the plant unfiltered. 5 minutes later the effect wasn't there. Believe me, it doesn't take long.

Dimples · #8 07-25-2022, 02:48 AM

Could the helper that watered your orchids while you were away have moved them to a sunnier spot, thinking they needed more light, then discovered their mistake (the burns) and moved them back before you got home?

Mountaineer370 · #9 07-25-2022, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loriorchids

Hello!
They were inside the home with AC at 72 degrees. They have been there always. Not sure why they would get sun burn now. We live in Florida.

Those black circles with white? Does that elan sunburn as well?
I attached two more pictures.

For clarification, you say they are indoors, in AC. But are you saying they are nowhere near a window, skylight, etc., where direct sunlight could touch them at all? Is it possible your watering person moved them while watering and left them in a different place for a while?

I agree that looks like sunburn damage. In the most recent photo, note the straight line on the lower leaf where it is undamaged above, and damaged below. That would correspond exactly to where it would have been shielded by the upper leaf, which of course has the worst damage.

Loriorchids · #10 07-25-2022, 10:18 AM

The person didn’t move them. But now that is daylight, Im looking at the light and the the heat outside. I placed my hand on the sunny part and it is VERY HOT, and is only morning hours!
They were receiving direct light! Gosh! What a dummy i am!
This is my first summer with orchids…now i know. I hope they dont die!

Thanks all of you for your help! My non-expert eye would’ve thought it was something else!