Black Spots? - Orchid Board

unique562 · #1 07-01-2007, 05:42 PM

My Sharry Baby has black spots on all the leaves and some of the older leaves are turning yellow. I bought it bare root and cut off all the old dead roots and potted it in fine bark chips. Now a week later more of the leaves are turning yellow. What is happening and how can i stop this?

unique562 · #2 07-01-2007, 05:47 PM

I also have them in a green house where the temp. is about 80 during the day and 67 at night with high humidity. How often should I water them?

justatypn · #3 07-01-2007, 06:10 PM

I as well have black spots on my Onicidium Sharry Baby and was told it's from misting. It's my understanding they do not like to be misted, in which I still do indirectly because it can not be avoided.

You recently bought your Sharry Baby or recently repotted? If this is the case I would water every 10 days, give the roots a chance to come around and do not fertilize for at least 2 months. There after a gradual fertilizing regimen to the normal regimen.

The mature leaves will eventually die back, but I am concerned if this is going to continue into the new growth. When I repotted mine I got minimal yellow leaves and or dying leaves so I am to venture in the care of the orchid for the next few months.

Suggestively you might want to do a sphag~n~bag set up until the roots become established...maybe some other member might chime in as well in regards to this procedure.

Humidity should be between 30 and 60 percent. Many oncidiums require less humidity than other orchids.

As for watering generally, plants with large fleshy roots or leaves need less-frequent watering than thin-leaved or thin-rooted plants. Watering should be thorough, and the medium should dry at least halfway through the
pot before watering again. Onicidiums that are not actively growing should be watered less; many species have winter rest periods.

Lagoon · #4 07-01-2007, 11:10 PM

Some black spots are very normal for Oncids. A good fanning of the area will help in reducing the onset or build up of these unwanted spots.

The yellowing could just be the normal dumping any orchid will do, becuz of the roots loss. Your plant needs some adjustment time

Ray · #5 07-02-2007, 10:25 AM

Sharry Baby is notorious for such spotting, and generally is not worth worrying about.

I have gathered opinions from many on this, and it appears that hot, dry conditions favor them the most, with maxed-out humidity and less-stressful temperatures being needed top avoid them.