Voluptuos orchid with redish brown spots on leaves - Orchid Board

brsword · #1 12-11-2008, 06:42 PM

Totally new here. I am setting up an orchidarium in a 150 g. tank. 2 40" T12 bulbs, 1 daylight and 1 a GE plant and aquarium grolight- wide spectrum. I now read that wide spectrum is not great. Lights are on for 10 hrs/day. Temperature is kept about 80-85 during day with a small personal fan heater. Temp drops to as low as 50-55 at night as it is in my basement. Humidity stays pretty constant at 80%. There is venting. It is not ideal yet, but I am working on it.
But the question is what is causing the brownish, redish spots on the leaves of this Exotic voluptuos orchid . Don't know much about it except it was fine in house during summer but I have moved all non-blooming orchids to this set up for the winter to see if I can get any of them to bloom again. In fact this orchid looks like it is pushing up some new leaves. Lights were 12-14" from top of plant.
I have read a lot on this board from lighting to leaf cleaning (with mayo (really?) to grapefruit juice). But treatment of spots like this I can not find.
Too much humidity?, over watering (i don't think so)?, too low night temps? Too much light? They don't look like burn spots to me.
When watered (about every 10 days) a dilute solution of orchid bloom is used per package directions. Maybe too much?
Thanks for any help you can give.

When I finish the orchidarium I will post a pic for suggestions.

Becca · #2 12-11-2008, 06:56 PM

I am not an expert when it comes to leaf spots like what you have. Could be bacterial? I'll let the experts here on the OB make the diagnosis. I just wanted to point out that your new growth has leaf pleating, which is usually due to lack of moisture uptake. I would say you may need to check your roots as often bad roots results in loss of moisture uptake. But on the other hand, the mature Pseudobulb on your plant isn't showing signs of dehydration, so I could be way off. Some one will chime in soon with a good recommendation. Welcome to the Orchid Board and glad to have you hear with us! Can't wait to see pictures of that orchidarium....I have two myself!

let_it_grow · #3 12-11-2008, 07:51 PM

This looks like it could be a virus. If it is a virus the only way to get rid of it would be to cut the affected part off with a sterile blade and safely dispose of it. I would also isolate the plant just in case. I'm no expert tho, I have never encountered a virus personally so maybe others with similar problems can confirm for you. I also agree with Becca about the crinkling leaves, I have had this prob with one of my Onc and i think it was due to lack of moisture. I think the reason why the rest of your plant is not showing signs of underwatering is cause the roots for the other pbulbs are buried. I noticed it happened to me when the new pbulb emerged too far above the potting medium so all the roots were exposed. I ended up making a bit of a mound of bark under that pbulb and sprayed the exposed roots every other day

frostedeyes · #4 12-11-2008, 10:28 PM

First thing first! get that plant of yours and isolate it far away, Anyway i would suggest to repot it at once, change your medium. trim all those nasty brown roots u get there. I believe your roots are in bad shape, seriously... and the pleating suggest that theres not enough roots for your young plant to get moisture. For your medium i would suggest you use tree fern with some charcoal. does your brown pot have holes? i suspect that its because of the brown pot you're using doesnt have holes that's why roots have a hard time to aerate and dry itself and ends up having a breeding ground for bacteria, etc. Try to look for an unglazed pot designed for orchids, it wont hold moisture that much. After repotting get a fungicide (physan or Aliette WP80) just follow the desired dosage. then give him a 3-7 days of no water and give him a rest. After that introduce him with some rooting hormone.

Another one is... just trim all those nasty roots and fungicide just place it somewhere without medium most probably give him 3 days rest without water then introduce him with some rooting hormone with water.
err... but i still prefer the no.1 lol

Some people might suggest u to sprinkle cinnamon but in these case like this i think its better to go for fungicide.
After trimming dont forget to sterilize your materials. It might spread to other chids. Please do give us a feedback. Incase you have time, try to post some more pics especially the roots and the new growth as well. thanks and happy blooming!

Shirley · #5 12-11-2008, 10:30 PM

I don't think that this would cause the marks on the leaves but I do think that more medium needs to be added to the pot. Too many exposed roots, IMO!

brsword · #6 12-12-2008, 01:28 AM

Boy, what a group to belong to! I have put the plant in the ER and cut off the most effective leaves. Cut spots off the other leaf. I had already put cinnamon on the cut edges but tomorrow will hit it with fungicide. I did cut off the brown roots and repot it with an orchid mix I had but do not have enough. But tomorrow out to the nursery and get some fern and charcoal mix.
So good people I will follow your advice and we will see what happens.
By golly it is 12:30 am here, time to go to bed.

Thanks