Bugs eating leaves? - Orchid Board

adlemsi · #1 06-03-2008, 10:17 PM

I got this Mini Mark 'Holms' orchid last week and today I noticed "dry spots" under one of the leaves

. Could this be caused by bugs?

What can I do to stop/prevent it?

Also, are those two little sticks stems? And is the little "nubbin" a new aerial root? This is a small plant in a 2.5" green plastic pot.

whygreenberg · #2 06-03-2008, 10:43 PM

howdy, fellow new yorker!
those dry spots just look like a little damage to me. not the result of bugs. but, to be sure, keep an eye out to see if the damage spreads. (i don't think it will.) the two "little sticks" look to me like the remains of spent flower spikes. and yes indeed, your nubbin is a new root emerging. you can tell because the tips of new, growing roots should be bright green or sometimes reddish, and the white covering beyond that is the root's velamen. the velamen is a coating which sponges up water or moisture in the air.

oh...and that's a nice healthy looking mini-mark ya got there!

adlemsi · #3 06-03-2008, 10:46 PM

Thanks! I bought it on eBay!

What kind of damage is it? What can I do to prevent it from spreading? Should I cut the spikes off completely?

whygreenberg · #4 06-04-2008, 12:08 AM

I doubt that it is damage that will spread. Could have happened any number of ways, you know, got banged around a little or something...Leaves do sometimes get torn. I wouldn't worry about it, to be honest. It's a very healthy looking plant yeh got there.

And, a lot of people here on the OB are wild about Phal. mini-mark. (I've only had mine a month and a half or so, and currently waiting on two spikes to bloom!)

adlemsi · #5 06-04-2008, 01:21 AM

What confuses me is that the spots came out of nowhere. The plant didn't come with them, they just showed up today, and it wasn't touched or moved except when I checked on it. I'm thinking it could be signs of sunburn, since we've had a few days of 70+ sunny weather. I moved it to a shadier spot, even though it was by an east-facing window with a lined bamboo shade.

whygreenberg · #6 06-04-2008, 01:36 AM

Hmm...could be sunburn, I suppose. Was it getting direct full sun? If so, yeah, could definitely be. I guess keep an eye on it, and see if the condition changes. Perhaps someone else here will have another opinion/advice to offer.

adlemsi · #7 06-04-2008, 08:40 AM

It wasn't getting full direct sunlight. The window it was by has a lined bamboo shade. I moved it to a slightly shadier spot and plan to keep an eye on the spots.

Thank you for your advice, Yvan.

camille1585 · #8 06-05-2008, 05:55 PM

Hi fellow yankee! I'm originally from Fairfield CT, so I know NYC pretty well!
I don't think it's sunburn. If that was the case, you would see the marks on the upper leafs as well, which would have been more exposed to the sun than a lower leaf. I think it could be mechanical damage that might have occured around the time you got it, and the plant only just started to form 'scabs'. As it's alower leaf anyways, I think it's no problem. To be safe, keep on eye on it!

BTW, I LOVE Mini-mark!! I got one in feb/March and I had three beautiful branched spikes on it. You'll enjoy it too!

adlemsi · #9 06-08-2008, 01:08 AM

I was checking on the leaves today when I noticed a tiny, translucent white bug crawling rapidly on one of the bark pieces

What is it? It's so small it doesn't show in

I'm thinking of soaking it with a bit of Physan 20 and repotting it in fresh medium.

adlemsi · #10 06-09-2008, 09:33 AM

I repotted the Phal. Mini Mark 'Holms' in fresh medium bark mix. I used a clear plastic slotted pot since it was originally in a green plastic pot with only bottom drainage holes. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping the leave damage doesn't spread and the little bugs don't show up again.