Spotting on leaves of various orchids

[estación seca]

I asked about the Vanda name because of your temperatures. For most, as Roberta mentioned, your home is too cool. That will predispose to fungal problems. Most Vandas would be far happier outside for you now.

They are also obligate heavy feeders. It hasn't grown because it hasn't had enough fertilizer. Even for seedlings use MSU at a rate of 1 Tablespoon (not teaspoon) per gallon of water in place of every 5th watering. You're currently watering twice per day, so you can fertilize every 48 hours. You could also use 1 teaspoon per gallon at every watering.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I asked about the Vanda name because of your temperatures. For most, as Roberta mentioned, your home is too cool. That will predispose to fungal problems. Most Vandas would be far happier outside for you now.

They are also obligate heavy feeders. It hasn't grown because it hasn't had enough fertilizer. Even for seedlings use MSU at a rate of 1 Tablespoon (not teaspoon) per gallon of water in place of every 5th watering. You're currently watering twice per day, so you can fertilize every 48 hours. You could also use 1 teaspoon per gallon at every watering.

Wow, you really use that much fertilizer on Vandas? Don't tell mine... Maybe they'd grow faster if they got more than I give them, but they do grow - and bloom.

[estación seca]

That's what Motes recommends in his book.

[Roberta]

I'm glad that orchids can't read.

Of course, Motes' orchids also get a lot more heat and sunlight and humidity and water than mine do, so they likely can utilize it. (All of the factors need to be balanced) Mine just have to be tough...Conditions are less than ideal so they grow more slowly and so need less fertilizer. If I gave them more fertilizer, I would not see the salutary increase of growth without those other factors also increasing in proportion.

[sewagner86]

So, the Vanda is one of 2....not sure which since labels were mixed up. The labels I have say Vanda pachara delight somsri and Vanda jairak redden.

[Roberta]

They both have similar ancestry. The ideal climate for both of them is warm and damp. Think Thailand. Or south Florida. Bright light (not direct sun which can bur leaves, but very bright) So the air-conditioned house feels frigid to both. It's chilly for the Phals too. The Phals need low light. But they'll also do better if they are warmer.

[estación seca]

Yes. Put your plants outside. Don't sunburn them and don't let them get eaten by rodents.

There are orchids which will thrive in cool homes. Look at Oncidium hybrids. Look at Pleurothalllids if you can keep humidity up.

[sewagner86]

I am ok with my Vanda going outside since it has no media on it making it fairly easy to inspect, but I can't put my phals out. I have big issues with mealybugs on my outside plants. I actually have kept phals in my house for quite a few years amd they grow nicely and flower every year

[WaterWitchin]

Late to the party. Just from the pictures, I see no fertilizer issues as Dimples says. From the pictures, the only thing I can see is a little bit of black spot on the phal leaf and a few on the crown. From the picture it appears really light-colored. The Onc looks like maybe a bit of sunburn from water on a leaf that was magnified by sun. The vanda looks like a fungus.

If you've been growing and blooming your phals successfully, the only thing I might suggest is a bit less light. And that's only IF the light grassy green color is reality and not from the picture. I wouldn't put them outside either if you have outside bug issues.

The vanda I'd get outside and hang under a tree or eave. Put some bacterial/fungal treatment on it if you have it, or spray it off with some rubbing alcohol. That gives it time to recoup while you figure out how to keep it warm once temps drop into low 60s, or find it a new home if you don't want to mess with it. It sounds like you're not super fond of it, and it's a baby. How much do you really want to baby it?

[sewagner86]

The picture is my 3 phal species. I have 4 grocery store phals also that aren't in the picture. The one on the top is my phal manii, the a bellina alba (which is my most recent purchase and I have only had it about a week.) The one one the bottom is supposed to a bellina coerulea but it could be a violacea (my friend bought one the same time I did and she got a violacea flower on it). The manii I have had the longest out of my species, but have only had it a few months. My grocery store phals I have had for a few years now and they grow new leaves and bloom every year. Is the color really too light on some of them? I can most certainly reduce lighting if needed. I will be moving the Vanda to my patio this weekend to see if i can make it a little happier. Thank you everyone for helping me out with it.