Rhy. gigantea with some type of brown spots.

[SP2340]

Helllo everyone and happy new year! I have a Rhynchostylis gigantea 'Peach' with some brown spots that are making me worried. I bought it about 3 weeks ago and repotted it. I sprayed it down with Physan while I had the roots bare. I potted it in one part sphag and one part LECA in a clay orchid pot that gets plenty of air movement. It's watered every morning. When I first saw the spots I sprayed it with Physan again. I was thinking to try spraying it with a mixture of alcohol and cinnamon I have. I thought that maybe since I put sphag in it that it was keeping it too moist since it's part of the Vanda family but then I looked online and saw other people do almost straight sphag. If you look in the pic you'll see new root growth starting which has me a little confused. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[orkie]

I don't know exactly what causes this, maybe it is light intensity. But I have the same plant, also a better gro plant, and mine also had those same spots when I got it, which seem to have all gone away. I was also a bit concerend at the time but mine has been growing fine with new leaves and roots. I would say to be safe, don't re-use water with it/other orchids, and use sterile tools. I keep mine in a mix of leca and sphagnum in a hanging basket.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Your orchid's fine. It's pigmentation.

[orchidsamore]

The spotting is normal for gigantia grown in high light levels.

gigantia even though it is a Vandaceous orchid grows in much lower light than other Vanda.

It can grow well in Phalaenopsis light levels. An excellent Vanda grower assures me they will flower in Phal light levels.

I tried an experiment this year with some in the Vanda house and some in the Phal house. The plants are from the same seed batch.

The leaves look magnificent in the Phal house and the Vanda house plants look like yours or even more spots.

All the Vanda house plants are coming into bud but the Phal house has not started yet. If it is only delayed flowering in the Phal house I will move all them there next year. If the Phal house ones do not bloom I will try a light level in between.

[trdyl]

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

All the Vanda house plants are coming into bud but the Phal house has not started yet. If it is only delayed flowering in the Phal house I will move all them there next year. If the Phal house ones do not bloom I will try a light level in between.

Jerry,

Please keep us posted with what you find out.

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

The spotting is normal for gigantia grown in high light levels.

gigantia even though it is a Vandaceous orchid grows in much lower light than other Vanda.

It can grow well in Phalaenopsis light levels. An excellent Vanda grower assures me they will flower in Phal light levels.

I tried an experiment this year with some in the Vanda house and some in the Phal house. The plants are from the same seed batch.

The leaves look magnificent in the Phal house and the Vanda house plants look like yours or even more spots.

All the Vanda house plants are coming into bud but the Phal house has not started yet. If it is only delayed flowering in the Phal house I will move all them there next year. If the Phal house ones do not bloom I will try a light level in between.

Hi Jerry,
I have two of these plants from you. I have them planted in Cocoa Husk Chips........lots of space between the 'chunks' and they are both doing fine.
Light level is the same as those for Phals. at your suggestion. They are sprayed down early in the day.

One of the plants does have some of these brown markings, they don't seem to do any harm and since the plant is doing fine I leave it alone if it ain't broke.
Al

[SP2340]

Very cool, thank you all for your advice!!