Cold or sun damage?

[vpsihop@hotmail.com]

Is this cold or sun damage...neither? The orchid is a sherry baby that arrived on a very cold day. This was 2 weeks ago. A couple days ago I put it up near a CFL bulb because it was looking alittle too dark green. Thanks for any help!

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[AnonYMouse]

Looks like pest damage.

[estación seca]

Spider mites. Spray both surfaces of the leaves with rubbing alcohol every 4 days for 2 weeks. They're on your other plants, as well. They are first noticed on thin-leafed plants.

[vpsihop@hotmail.com]

Straight rubbing alcohol? No soap water or oils? Just drench all my plants? I pointed a fan and humidifier at my plants to hopefully slow them down. Did not find a any webs, maybe an old infestation? Can't remember this damage was there when I got the plant

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by vpsihop@hotmail.com

Straight rubbing alcohol? No soap water or oils? Just drench all my plants? I pointed a fan and humidifier at my plants to hopefully slow them down. Did not find a any webs, maybe an old infestation? Can't remember this damage was there when I got the plant

I thought it was a new problem. It could be old damage. I put straight 70% isopropyl alcohol into a hand-held spray bottle and use to to drench the whole plant, being especially careful to get all the undersides of the leaves. Soap solution works just as well, but I don't like the residue it can leave on my plants. I don't like spraying oil because I don't like the mess everywhere.

Some people check for mites by running a small piece of wet white paper tissue under the leaves. If I see damage I just spray.

I've learned which of my plants are susceptible (including the non-orchids) so I spray only those. The mites are established in the wild here so I know I can't get rid of them. I don't treat every plant in my collection.

Since you aren't certain this is a current problem, I would only treat this plant, and keep a careful eye on all your plants.

[vpsihop@hotmail.com]

Great info! Thank you.

[3rdMaestro]

I had something similar happen to my sharry baby. The tip of the leaf looked similar to your first picture then the whole tip browned and died. I assume it was cold damage because at the time it was awfully close to a cold window. I've since moved it back and it stopped the problem. This was on a newer leaf of mine. However, there weren't any spots like your second picture shows...

[climbtheplanet]

I moved to a new house this month and I noticed today my Oncidium has developed some brown spots. You can see them on 3 of the leaves, and they are all on the largest and oldest pseudobulb (the small obvious spot on the edge of the lower leaf is an old injury that came with the plant, the new ones are the light spots in the center of the leaves).

At first I thought sun damage bc the spots are all sun facing, but my only option now is a east window that only gets direct light from about 8am to 10 am. Previously my orchids were in a west window, they got indirect light and evening sun and they did very well.

I did notice however that for the last few days the window was pretty cold (crappy window, 25 degrees outside, 70 degrees inside).

I also had a air root on a Phal that has always been healthy turn grey and shrivel, and it was hanging between the pot and the window. The Phal is otherwise unharmed.

A third variable was i think I went too long between waterings this week. In my old house I watered as needed which was usually every 4-5 days, but I let about 8 days pass this time. In the past an occasional week passing between waterings didn't seem to hurt, but I wanted to mention it in case some dehydration could have exacerbated the situation.

Both orchids are growing spikes which seem unharmed.

So, do you all think these spots are likely from being too close to the cold window? Any other thoughts?

Thanks.

[estación seca]

First, climbtheplanet, Welcome to the Orchid Board! There is a thread for new introductions here:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...reak-the-ice-/
We look forward to meeting you and your orchids.

Your Oncidium leaf looks exactly like sunburn. You don't say where you live. Even though it's winter, if it previously received only indirect sun, and then received direct sun for only a few hours, this could happen. This kind of plant normally can handle direct sun through a window even in the summer if air circulation is good. But it has lost its sun adaptation during the winter.

The Phal root could have been insufficient water, too much sun or too cold temperature.

[climbtheplanet]

Thanks for the quick reply and the welcome!

I live in Boulder CO. Ill update my profile soon.

In my old house the west window had a balcony above it so my orchids got indirect light after noon and direct evening sun after 5 pm until dark. The window was much nicer and with a base heater underneath the temperature was a stable 68 degrees. The orchids thrived in that window and were always hearty and low maintenance. Both the Oncidium and Phal are growing new spikes for the first time under my care, hence me joining and asking for help. I've never had problems before and I would hate to mess them up now and lose the spikes.

In the new house the east window is very thin and leaky and does not have as good of a heat source. I think the direct sunlight is similar to their old environment except its morning light instead of evening. That's why I was wondering if it was the cold.

My only other window now is a south facing one that gets all day direct sun and can get super hot. I'd like to use it if I could, so if I can control the temperature, do you have any wisdom on something like translucent window coverings that can turn the direct light into a healthy weaker light?

Thanks a bunch.