Spots on Angraecum sesquipidale buds and spurs

[Simone S]

Hi all! I'm looking for insight on my Angraecum sesquipidale. I've got 2 spikes (yay!) but the first buds started developing sunken, irregularly shaped brown spots over the last few weeks. Some are on top, and some are on the bottom. In the last few days the spurs have started to darken as well. The spots are a bit weepy with brown liquid.

The plant seems otherwise healthy and growing well. Roots that I can see through the pot look good with nice tips. I have noticed some spotting and brown patches in pictures of these flowers when open, but haven't found much about the spotted buds. I have looked for pests with a jewelers loupe, and was unable to see any.

Is this just part of growing these or do I have a potential fungal or bacterial thing happening here? If so, is there something I can do? Should I isolate it?

65-75% RH, good air movement from fans, strong light,
80ish during the day down to 70ish at night.

Thanks for your insight!

[estación seca]

I don't know what that is, but it resembles thrips damage. They cause the damage when buds are tiny. It becomes apparent later.

[Simone S]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I don't know what that is, but it resembles thrips damage. They cause the damage when buds are tiny. It becomes apparent later.

I wondered about thrips. I'll take another look at the buds in the light tomorrow. I've come across a few things online about blossom midges, but I'm unsure of how common they are or exactly how to find them. Maybe I'd be able to dissect a bud and find larvae if they were there? I'm grasping at straws here I think 😅

I got the plant from Orchids Limited about a year ago. I reached out to them and they thought it might be due to letting the plant dry out too much, or potentially to old moss. I repotted about 6 months ago, so I doubt the moss has gone off that quickly, but who knows. I might have let it get slightly dry once, but not incredibly dry by any means. I'm no expert at this plant, so perhaps I'm not yet sure what "too dry" means during bud development.