Pests or infection?

[Leafmite]

I don't grow phrags so if this is cultural, I am out of my league. :|

[Jenn4a]

Originally Posted by silken

It looks like cold damage to me too.

If you are seeing little red dots on some of your other ones, do they wipe off? If so they are likely spider mite and need a miticide to kill them off. Other pesticides that don't state that won't work.

Sorry for not being clear! I meant that on the top of leaves there's pitting. On the underside, there's red directly under the pitting. There are some black specks on the leaves that come off. Also some black areas that don't; roughly the same size of the red pitting, but sometimes bigger.

Thanks for the replies!

---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:34 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I don't grow phrags so if this is cultural, I am out of my league. :|

I may have to check in with SlipperTalk. I fear that if I don't figure out what to do very soon, that this phrag will go downhill very fast. His leaves are turning yellow in some areas. He's definitely not happy with something or things.

[wintergirl]

I mentioned this on other threads but there is a "digital microscope" that you can buy off of Ebay for $19 with free shipping that can ease your pest worries. I saw a video about this gadget on MissOrchidGirls Youtube. It magnifies things 500 times so you can see everything about your leaves. It will show mites, close up of leaf damage, ect. I found it helpful when wanting to see questionable areas on my leaves. It plugs into to your computer and you see it on your screen. You can even capture pictures or video. Well worth $19...

50 500x 2MP USB 8 LED Light Digital Microscope Endoscope Video Camera Magnifier | eBay

That is the seller I used and they shipped right away.

[silken]

Originally Posted by Jenn4a

Sorry for not being clear! I meant that on the top of leaves there's pitting. On the underside, there's red directly under the pitting. There are some black specks on the leaves that come off. Also some black areas that don't; roughly the same size of the red pitting, but sometimes bigger.

Thanks for the replies!

---------- Post added at 01:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:34 PM ----------



I may have to check in with SlipperTalk. I fear that if I don't figure out what to do very soon, that this phrag will go downhill very fast. His leaves are turning yellow in some areas. He's definitely not happy with something or things.

Definitely check with slipper talk as there are many experienced growers there. I have several Phrags and keep them in an inch of standing water. Never seen this so I can't offer much more. If it moves quickly just keep it away from other plants and it must be bacterial or fungal.

As to the Paphs with the spots, again a little stumped unless you can see something moving with a magnifying glass or microscope. Then mites of some sort obviously.

[Jenn4a]

I'll post a thread on SlipperTalk!
Here is the album of the new phrag if you guys want to check out more photos, 12 in all.
Schlimii X Wallisii Photos by jenn4a | Photobucket

Thanks!

[katrina]

Originally Posted by Jenn4a

I'm pretty sure it isn't cold damage. It was 50°F when I got them...

That can be too cold for SOME orchids. Just saying...

[Jenn4a]

I overlooked temperature changes in the house. It's been colder the last couple days and it didn't register in my head. So the cooler temps could be the culprit, paired with wet conditions.
Either that or the temperature fluctuates more. I didn't think about the temperatures in the house causing any problems because the other two phrags seem okay. I'm going to monitor the temps more carefully to see exactly how low and high they've been going. It's usually above 63 at night, and 73 during the day. The last couple days it could have dropped to 55 night and 65 day. About an hour and a half ago it was 67, and then 45 mins later it was 71 by the phrag wallisii x schlimii.

I'm very sorry guys! I don't know how it slipped passed me. When I was thinking of cold damage, I was thinking only about the temps it was exposed to on the way home.
Sorrrrry!

[Jenn4a]

Since I initially started the thread here, I feel like I should keep it updated.
This is copied and pasted from my post on SlipperTalk. Sorry about pasting the same info, I know some members here are also members on ST, but I know some aren't.
________
I think I solved one issue!
Some of those spots that I was initially worried about *when I started this thread* disappeared! Some of them have disappeared completely, but some of the ones that were there the longest are barely noticeable. Some of them are still fading away!
I did a google search when I noticed they were disappearing, and this thread came up: Overhydration - Slippertalk Orchid Forum- The best slipper orchid forum for paph, phrag and other lady slipper orchid discussion!
Over-hydration!!!
The old mix was soggy (probably too soggy for being 50% wallisii.) Once I repotted this phrag, it now has enough moisture, but also enough air. At least this is my theory. .. So this phrag probably will enjoy being watered every day, or every other day, but it does not appreciate sitting in water for too long.
I don't know if the brown/red spots with yellow halos are connected to the same issue, but I'm happy I figured out one thing! I figured this info will also be helpful for anyone else who has a similar issue. (Particularly with a long petaled phrag and their hybrids)
Now I'm wondering if wallisii was the pod or pollen parent.
________

I don't think there was an issue with cold temps. The areas that the plant has been in have been well over 63°F. The place the phrag was at first was even 64°F, 4" away from the window. That room is definitely warm. 64 lowest(even by the window.) 91 warmest. Usually 73-88 during the day.
^^ the room issues will be fixed soon. The info about my situation and my plan to fix it is in a different thread.

[Leafmite]

How wonderful! I am so glad that the orchid is just fine. Sometimes, when my plants have gotten too cold, the leaves get that sort of look but, once it warms, it goes away. However, I am guessing that the cause is what you are saying that it is. (Again, I do not grow these). Thanks for the update!

[Jenn4a]

Thanks for the reply!
The old media was so broken down that I found an earthworm crawling around... I never thought I would see one in orchid bark.

This plant is mostly under control now.
There is a leaf with spots and yellow halos. I don't plan to cut it off unless it starts growing quickly.
This plant might have some sort of infection that isn't spreading as quickly now. I found some suspicious dead tissue hiding in the leaves I cut. I had a gut feeling that told me to cut off some leaves.
I'll probably lose at least one new growth, possibly from infection, otherwise unknown. The innermost leaf has turned orange.
I shall post some new photos soon. I mentioned on ST that if the phrag doesn't have a foliage infection, that it's healthy. It has the best roots of all my phrags! The only dead roots were from a dead, old growth.