Black spots and leaf excoriations on Phalaenopsis - Orchid Board

Pugnaciousk · #1 08-04-2012, 01:00 PM

Hello all,
My name is Abby.
I am new to the forum and would be delighted if anyone could tell me whats wrong with my orchid plant.
I am not completely new to orchids or indoor plant care. I am also obssessed with cacti and succulents. My previous experience has been in a tropical climate as opposed to damp old England. I grow only in containers.
I have had this plant for 3 years now,originally bought from ikea. It has developed these spots and leaf marks well over 2 years now.The plant seems to be fine otherwise and has flowered twice.The root system also looks fine and I can see no pests or scale. It sits on a south facing window ledge and I water once a week in the summer or whenever the roots look dry. This has spread to the other leaves and my other 2 phalaenopsis but like I said seems not to be doing much harm besides looking unsightly. Any help would be most appreciated.
Thankyou all.

Leafmite · #2 08-04-2012, 02:01 PM

Hi! Welcome to the site! I am not really certain what this is. Someone else is certain to help.

Wynn Dee13 · #3 08-04-2012, 03:04 PM

Welcome! I don't know what the brown spots are but the scratches look like mechanical damage. Do you have a cat?

sweetjblue · #4 08-04-2012, 03:29 PM

Wynn Dee, First thing I also thought of was a cat for the scratches!
Pugnaciousk, I don't have any idea on the spots though. Is it on both sides? It sits in a south window, is it possible it could be from sunburn?

Judi

BTW, Welcome to the OB!

Pugnaciousk · #5 08-05-2012, 01:45 PM

Hello all,
Thankyou for your replies and the welcome. Yes I do have a cat but the orchids are out of her reach. I guess sunburn is a possibility...if its a bacterial/viral disease my orchids would have succumbed by now?
The spots are also on the back.
Abby

Wynn Dee13 · #6 08-05-2012, 07:05 PM

The spots or scratches don't look like any kind of sunburn I have ever seen. Especially the scratches. Are you sure your cat can't reach your plants? I know my cat isn't even suppose to be in the house but she gets in sometimes and can reach pretty much everything.

naoki · #7 08-06-2012, 05:14 PM

I'm not sure if the black spots are reccessed or not, but could the black spots be caused by Oedema?

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PP/PP16400.pdf

I don't have first hand experience with this physiological disorder, so it might be completely on a wrong track. Maybe other people can say something about it.

Wynn Dee13 · #8 08-06-2012, 05:36 PM

naoki- the black spots do look Oedema to me too. I think I have it on a few Catts that I thought was just sunburn. Thanks for the link.