Transparent Spots on Oncid Leaves?

[butterfly_muse]

I recently purchased an oncda. copper scarab 'brass brethren' and when I got it, there were a few black spots on the leaves - which I got under control (this guy is in quarantine), and while I was watering today, I noticed that a TON of the leaves have little transparent spots. Like maybe bugs are eating the leaves?

I just wanted to know if it is in fact bug damage, and what I should use to get rid of it, or if I need to do something else? The orchids are all inside for the winter, as it's too cold at night for them not to be. I have attached pictures. Any help would be great! thanks!

[cbuchman]

I agree with you that it might be bugs. Have you tried wiping with an alcohol wipe/tissue? Does anything show up on the tissue?

[WhiteRabbit]

I get the small spots on many of my outdoors, thinner leaved orchids (Onc, Cyms) - I believe they are from sucking insects that aren't necessarily living on the plants ...

The larger spots, I don't know ...

Wouldn't hurt to spray the plant with soapy water and rubbing alcohol mixture.

[butterfly_muse]

I wiped the plant's leaves down last night with alcohol, and all I got off of it was dirt? I think? I mean, it turned the cotton pads brown, so I assume it is dirt. Also, I noticed that there are some dried leaves and such in the media (this guy needs repotting desperately), so it's likely that it was kept in an outdoor environment before it came to me.

When I first got it, I sprayed it down with physan 20 (mixed in a spray bottle with water), as it has some black spots too. I've heard random spots are pretty common on oncidiums, but I sprayed it anyway in case of fungus. None of those spots have spread/gotten larger, and I sprayed it down again this evening just in case.

Is there something specific I should have looked for on the cotton pad after wiping all the leaves with alcohol? Should I do it again? And if so, how often? Thanks!

[billc]

You can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what is going on with oncidium type leaves. Awhile back one my my plants developed some small opaque areas on the leaves which at the time I figured was too much light. I moved the plant further back on the windowsill and the newer leaves are just fine.
With the black spots they get, and the pleating of the leaves when you miss watering a few times, and the die back that takes forever on the old leaves, I sometimes wonder why I grow them. Then the spike comes up and all is forgiven!

Bill

[cbuchman]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

I wiped the plant's leaves down last night with alcohol, and all I got off of it was dirt? I think? I mean, it turned the cotton pads brown, so I assume it is dirt. Also, I noticed that there are some dried leaves and such in the media (this guy needs repotting desperately), so it's likely that it was kept in an outdoor environment before it came to me.

When I first got it, I sprayed it down with physan 20 (mixed in a spray bottle with water), as it has some black spots too. I've heard random spots are pretty common on oncidiums, but I sprayed it anyway in case of fungus. None of those spots have spread/gotten larger, and I sprayed it down again this evening just in case.

Is there something specific I should have looked for on the cotton pad after wiping all the leaves with alcohol? Should I do it again? And if so, how often? Thanks!

Probably tiny bugs and not dirt - best guess. Try soap as someone else suggested.

[Bill U.]

If the pad came off with a red tint to it, there may have been some small bugs that may have gotten squished in the process of wiping the plant off. This is common in cases with red spider mites. If you have wiped it down once already with alcohol, I would recommend that 2-3 days after the initial wipe, give it another wipedown with a mixture of rubbing alcohol with some dish soap (no more than 2-3 drops, if you use too much soap it can clog the pores in the leaves and cause die-back). After the initial treatments, I would recommend not treating with alcohol more than once a week in the upcoming weeks because with some of the thinner oncidium type leaves, you can cause then to dry out if over-treating with alcohol.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by billc

You can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out what is going on with oncidium type leaves. Awhile back one my my plants developed some small opaque areas on the leaves which at the time I figured was too much light. I moved the plant further back on the windowsill and the newer leaves are just fine.
With the black spots they get, and the pleating of the leaves when you miss watering a few times, and the die back that takes forever on the old leaves, I sometimes wonder why I grow them. Then the spike comes up and all is forgiven!

Bill

Hahaha this is very true! I have a beallara and sometimes I'm so confused what is going on with it - it gets the weirdest issues with its leaves, and it's always completely random (like hello random brown dry spot??). My cats also like grassy-type plants, so my poor beallara and my onc. twinkle have suffered cat nibbles at the tips of their leaves.

---------- Post added at 04:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:09 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Bill U.

If the pad came off with a red tint to it, there may have been some small bugs that may have gotten squished in the process of wiping the plant off. This is common in cases with red spider mites. If you have wiped it down once already with alcohol, I would recommend that 2-3 days after the initial wipe, give it another wipedown with a mixture of rubbing alcohol with some dish soap (no more than 2-3 drops, if you use too much soap it can clog the pores in the leaves and cause die-back). After the initial treatments, I would recommend not treating with alcohol more than once a week in the upcoming weeks because with some of the thinner oncidium type leaves, you can cause then to dry out if over-treating with alcohol.

Alright, I will wipe them down again tonight before bed, then. After that, should I just watch and see if any more spots develop? The plant does have some newer leaves and the newer looking leaves are fine so far.

Should I only wipe it maybe once a week for a few more weeks? How long should I continue (or should I do it for prevention)? And how long should I have it in quarantine?

[NYCorchidman]

I doubt it's bug although it is reasonable to think that.

I have had oncidiums and dendrobiums with such tiny transparent marks, althoguh I've never seen so many on a single leaf like shown in your pictures.

I believe it's more of a physiological stuff that apparently do not harm the plants. I've never seen any bugs hanging around those marks.