Rusty Looking Spots on Paph.

[RandomGemini]

I checked the St. Augustine Orchid Society site and didn't see anything fitting this description and I found a bunch of old threads on several forums describing this, but they had no replies.

I have these rust colored spots on my Paph Kiwi Charm. I'm wondering if this could be from getting water on the leaves from my misting the plant and if I need to do anything to prevent it from spreading. I have some physan 20 and can certainly apply it if need be, I just hate to do it if it's not necessary. These spots do not appear on the underside of the leaf, just on the surface, that's why I was thinking maybe it was because I got water on the leaf when I was misting.

This seems to be my month for running into orchid diseases.

Thanks much!

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[NYCorchidman]

One of my paphiopedilum book has a picture that is similar to yours, and it says those marks are from mites. not spider mites, but the one that is too small to be seen by naked eyes.

I would cut off that that leaf (as it might be covered with mites all over!) and spray miticide and see if the same symptom comes back.

[RandomGemini]

Oh no.... I wonder if I will need to treat my dogs too!!!

[NYCorchidman]

Plant mites do not attack animals.

[RandomGemini]

Oh thank God. I'm paranoid about that after my dogs got fleas last year. I'm allergic to fleas and hadn't had fleas in my house in nearly 20 years!

[NYCorchidman]

Dog mites eat dry skins. Fleas suck blood, which is much worse I guess.
They can easily transfer when your dog hangs out with other dogs. At least they don't fly around in the air like plant mites do.

Plant mites suck plant sap.

I hate them all.

[kindrag23]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Dog mites eat dry skins. Fleas suck blood, which is much worse I guess.
They can easily transfer when your dog hangs out with other dogs. At least they don't fly around in the air like plant mites do.

Plant mites suck plant sap.

I hate them all.

Good to know, especially since my dog has a liking for my greenhouse...glad to know his pests wont be a problem.

[RandomGemini]

Yeah, well... it's looking like all I really need to do, is set this plant outside for a few days. According to the AOS website, the best thing to do for these smaller mites is to put the plant outdoors and let the natural predators of these mites out there populate the pot. We've had temps in the high 80s and 90s though and I'm not sure this paph would tolerate those temps... so my next option is Bayer Rose and Flower.

I'm thinking that since I've already got two plants with fungal infections and I'm spraying them down with Physan, I might as well make a party out of it. LOL!

[judith_arquette]

Good luck! Hopefully that'll resolve the issue

[james mickelso]

google "ring spot viruses". Looks like it to me. Water borne viruses. Makes round necrotic spots just like this. Quit misting your plants so it doesn't spread. Mites make random damaged areas . These are uniform like ring spot virus damage.

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