Strange outbreak happening!!! Help please before it's too late!!!!

[AmyG]

Hi purple_phal_gal13, I did notice maybe a bit of webbing on the first set of pics you posted. Maybe mites? Those tiny spots may be bites from that. The discoloration in the Catt leaves may be a calcium deficiency or cold damage. That's what I've been told anyway. Sounds like you are a vigilant, proactive grower. Your 'chids look good to me! Dependng on your fertilizer, I supplement my fertilizer (generic) with Epsom salts. try spraying hydrogen peroxide or Listerine to kill any possible fungus.

[Purple_phal_gal13]

I'll try using a more direct to the media method. I try my best to avoid the leaves, but you know how that goes. Plenty of Cal/Mag here so no worries on that.

See that's what has me confused. I've never seen anything like this in my hours of searching for pests/fungus/diseases.... I started a Physan regime bi-weekly and where I am now is still the spots but no damage. Though my Pangkok Blue I recently got has shown some browing/yellowing which is probably sunburn/damage.

The white stuff on the vanda's leaves seems to be a wash or something from before I got it. It's not from any of my watering.

[silken]

That does look like sunburn on the Vanda.

When you say you still have the spotting problem, do you mean more tiny spots keep appearing? The old ones will not go away. The aim is to prevent more from developing.

[Purple_phal_gal13]

The spots don't go away but I don't see any new ones popping up with the physan regime.

Yeah, I got the vanda acclimated and put it outside on what was supposed to be a cloudy day and the sun came out while I was in town so it got some sun for a good number of hours.

[RJSquirrel]

I want to say its some kind of insect dung. Small caterpillars of moths leave behind crusty black dung that resembles little black specks. They roll up in dirt balls they stick to themselves for camo on the underside of the leaves. They are very small and you can see them when they wiggle around inside the dirt cocoon. About 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. They can see you when you spot them and try to outrun the hand smaching they have coming. They eat new shoots while they are still soft. When the leaves get hardened they move on. Damage Done. I would check for some very tiny bugs with a 40x jewelers loupe or magnifying glass.

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Purple_phal_gal13

...as on my non-fertilizing week I use some tap water diluted with DI and we have a good bit of calcium in our water.

I used to think the plants got enough calcium from my water source too but I was told by someone that plants can't absorb that form of calcium. I had some plants showing signs of calcium deficiency...which is how it all came up. Anyway...since then I have been regularly using a cal/mag supp...and it's halted the issues. The old/ugly leaves won't go away but the new leaves are not showing the same issues.

Don't rely on your water for the calcium.

[Purple_phal_gal13]

I'll definitely check for bugs with a loupe I have a few I used in some classes in college. I doubt it's bugs though. But I'm not ruling anything out. I did do the alcohol on a cotten ball swipe with no residue of bugs.

Katrina, I didn't know that they can't use that form of Ca. What would be a good supplement? I'm using Rays K-lite so I know it has some Mg Ca. What amount shoiuld I be aiming for?

[katrina]

You know, my fert has calcium too but I guess it wasn't enough for some of my plants. I use a product by Botanicare called Cal/Mag Plus. It's a liquid and I mix it in w/my fert solution. I get it at a local hydroponics store.

I started using it back in the late winter and I have to admit that I've noticed a difference w/my new growths this summer. I'll know more after a full growth cycle (min 1yr) but so far I'm very pleased w/the results.

[silken]

I use MSU fert which has a mix of all micronutrients as well as Cal/Mag but the addition of a straight Cal/Mag liquid supplement seems to be making a difference to me as well. I am getting a lot of first time blooms also which could be just a coincidence but it sure makes me wonder!

[Button]

Is there any specific brand of Ca/Mg supplement that seems better? Or Ca/Mg ratio?