Uneven colouring of phal leaves? Normal, fungus, light issue?

[PaphLover]

Curious if there is a problem with these two phals. The first was a rescue from Home Depot that is finally growing new leaves, roots and appears otherwise healthy.
The second phal is my longest-owned and also appears healthy with an over-abundance of roots and four new leaves in the past year.

Is there an issue with either of these plants? None of my other phals have this strange mottling of colour that the first plant has or the dark spots that the second phal has. There is no pitting in either plant's leaves and only the one leaf on each seems to be affected.

Thanks for the help!

[WhiteRabbit]

I'd watch the dark spots ... hopefully some other members will come in

[lepetitmartien]

1- possibly adaptation to light changes should disappear in one two weeks. If it goes differently we'll have to investigate.
2- to watch, could be nasty stuff
3- normal

[PaphLover]

Hmmm, thanks to you both. A little cryptic, so I moved the plant with dark spots to another room.

Any ideas what the dark spots might be? Fungus?

Lepetitmartien--I'm guessing the 1. , 2., 3. refers to the pictures I posted, yes?

[PaphLover]

Anyone know what this critter is? Found it on my uneven phal leaf. Sorry the photo's a bit blurry.

[Matorchid]

Looks like a ant

And the dark spots might be some sort of rot

[Ray]

Looks like a thrip to me, and they can be extremely damaging to orchids.

Most of the discoloration looks inconsequential; the black edges could simply be bruising from mechanical damage, but it can progress to fungal issues, so keep an eye on it.

[lepetitmartien]

Originally Posted by PaphLover

Any ideas what the dark spots might be? Fungus?

Lepetitmartien--I'm guessing the 1. , 2., 3. refers to the pictures I posted, yes?

Yup, the pics, in order.

Fungus or bacteria, have a nose on it, it may be clearer (mushroom scent => fungus, horrible scent => bacteria). No scent doesn't mean a thing.

The critter looks like a very blurry ant, way too big for a thrips.

[PaphLover]

Hmmm, the insect was a flying insect. Slow moving. Very thin. Didn't look like a regular ant I've ever seen. Only saw the one. For a while in the past, I had an issue with tiny flyers. Let the orchids thoroughly dry out and stopped keeping them on trays with rocks and water. Since then the bugs have disappeared.

[Matorchid]

It really looks like an ant fo some type, if im not mistaken the queen usually can fly until mating then it loses wings. Some others fly as well. The only reason why I know this we had a nest in one of our walls. Never saw one in the house until conditions got rihht one day and they burrowed a hole in sheet rock and thousands crawling flying, gross we then called exterminator, he knocked hole in wall in a pocket of missing fiberglass about 24"x48" there was a huge nest, it had crawled through a hole of plumbing that was not patched.
I just pulled this up check it out if there is one there are more, and asmorchid growers we definitely dont want ants around, right!


ants that fly
On Flying Ants

Good luck