Spots on top of leaf - help?

[hypersparkle]

Hi there,

I have had this phal for 2 weeks. It's my first orchid (now have 5 more heheh. I'm addicted!!). When I got it had a spot that looked a bit like an injury - just a dent more than a spot really. It's spread now.

It's on a shelf by a windowsill shelf. The shelf comes out from the window sill into my office, so it's not directly in the window, but very close. It's a SW window. I had to repot it due to root rot (so wet it strongly smelled musty and rotten). It's now in one of those nice "ultimate orchid basket"s and sphag (I'm a bit of an under waterer).

Here are pictures:
- Top of leaf

- underside of leaf

Any ideas??

[Kristen616]

I'm a major orchid newbie so i could definately be wrong, but it looks like sunburn to me. It happened to one of mine, that's why I'm mentioning it. Mine are also in a SW window, and I didn't have any sheers. Now I put some white sheers over my windows and haven't had a problem with any of my other babys getting burnt! good luck!

[Jenn]

I vote sunburn on this one as well. Definitely get some sheers for your window, or close your blinds slightly to redirect light if you have them. I use the blinds trick for my phals. Works great!

[hypersparkle]

Where do I find short sheers?? anyone? I've never had to buy curtains before. We went looking last weekend and had no luck. Everything is like 20" too long. This is a smaller window.

The only reason I don't think it might be sunburn is that it had the one spot when I bought it 2 weeks ago from Lowe's and it definitely wasn't getting direct sunlight there. :/ Do you think it could be a physical injury of some sort?

[Kristen616]

I got my sheers at wal mart of all places! I just wanted cheap ones. But Target and Bed Bath and Beyond also have a good curtain selection.

[addictedcountryman]

If you check my thread- phal with bumpy leaves- people gave some great suggestions. I found out that mine were thrips and wiped down the area with alcohol, repotted, and separated from my other plants. Now it is fine- the damage is still present, but it hasn't spread.

[hypersparkle]

My plant has taken a turn for the worse. I ended up cutting off the damaged leaf, treating the area, and found the leaf below was yellowing and browning on the edges. I just took a look at the remaining big leaf and it has a spot on it's underside. I've scooted my other plants away from it. I can't remove it completely as that's the only room where I get the light it needs.

Should I maybe start considering this plant a loss?

[addictedcountryman]

have you wiped down the area with alcohol? i also noticed that your pic shows that it is planted in sphagnum moss- how do your roots look? i think we might be able to salvage it. can you post thorough pics of the plant and roots? I re-read what you wrote- how did you treat the root rot? when i repotted, my media was contaminated with thrips (like tiny spiders that suck the life out of the plant) and i simply wiped my plant down with alcohol and drenched it in insecticidal soap. i placed a fan on it so that water or soap would not stick in the crown and create crown rot. So far, my plant is doing great- the cellular damage is still present, but it has not spread. the leaves are firm and the roots are healthy. Lets see if we can revive yours.

[hypersparkle]

The roots were in bad shape when I took them out of their original pot from Lowe's. I trimmed them and rubbed a little hydrogen peroxide on them.

I did repot in sphag, but they're in a net basket - not a pot so they get lots of circulation. I'm also not an overwaterer - more of an under than and over. ^_^; I haven't looked at the roots since I repotted 2 weeks ago. I wanted to give them some time to settle in to their new home as the plant is still in bloom.

I will try the alcohol on the leaf tonight. I have separated it now from my other flowers. It's sitting on my desk, about 6 feet away from the orchids that are on the ledge. Do you think my other orchids are in danger? They were up next to it for awhile. I haven't seen any damage yet though on my other 2 phals, oncidium (sharry baby), leptotes bicolor miniature (the one closest to this phal), or my Neofinetia falcata miniature.

I repotted everything this morning besides the ondicidium and the Neofinetia falcata. The Sharry is still in bloom from when I got it from Lowe's and the Neo just bloomed the other day.

[addictedcountryman]

oooh... you should post pics of your oncidiums someone told me that if you like take a cotton ball with alcohol and wipe the leaf, if you see tiny red things moving (or they could be dead?) then they are thrips.
sounds like you know what you are doing . I don't think your other orchids are in danger- mine was packed in between, but do keep an eye on your other orchids . sorry i get carried away with the smilies.