Spots on new leaves

[Florr]

Guys,
I hope you can help! I searched all over the internet and couldn't find anything like what I'm having.

Several of my phalaenopsis have been putting out some very strange and deformed new leaves. I haven't seen any bugs or spidermite damage on the other leaves, just the new ones. Also the phals are in very good overall health - they look good, they're all actively growing new roots.

Should I treat them with something? Are those bugs? Or it's something to do with the fertilizer?

Thanks so much!

[Ray]

To me, that damage appears to be mechanical, caused by cultural conditions, rather than a pest or disease.

Please tell us about your growing conditions - temperature day and night, humidity, light level, air movement - and details about your water, and watering and feeding regimen.

[Florr]

Hi Ray,
Thanks for your response!
They sit in a balcony with windows, so during the summer it was very very hot (88-90 F). They didn't get direct sunshine. The door was open, so there was some air when there was wind.
As for the watering and feeding - I'm using different fertilizers, most recently Rain mix. I fertilize with almost every watering when I see that the medium is dry, they got immersed in water for a couple of hours.
Not ideal conditions I know, but the strange thing is that not all the phalaenopsis got this "damage" on their new leaves, I have some, which are perfectly fine.

Thanks again!

[Selmo]

I agree with ray, looks like mechanical damage. Have you had this plant for some time or is this fairly new? This is the only plant that is doing this? Damage looks to of happened 3 to 6 months ago, and is now showing up on only this leaf. Something could of banged into it, it fell off shelf, or rough handling by seller/grower/transporter, could of been some kind environmental stress like temperature extremes or insect/animal damage cause by something chewing on it. When the leaf was young and in the bud stage. Watch the new emerging leaves to see if this continues or is just the one leaf. Would not worry much over this, just some unsightly leaves for awhile.

[Florr]

Yes there is damage on other plants as well, I'm attaching photos. If it is as you say mechanical damage, I'll be relieved as I was afraid those are some bugs or a decease that needs treatment.

[Selmo]

All the damage seems to be only on the new leaves and not on any older leaves. It could of been caused by insects chewing on the crown, but they seem to quit damaging the leaves as they matured. Do not panic, the two new photos show little to be worried about, except that you had water setting in the crown. Don’t over analyze (a watched pot never boils) this, plants are very resilient and have strategies to deal with miner bumps, scarps, and things chewing on them. What ever caused this may of sampled serval of your plants finding none of them to their likes. Doesn’t look as if you need any sort of treatment. Best of luck and don’t worry so much.

[Ray]

How much fertilizer are you giving them, and how often?

[Florr]

Ray,
About the fertilizer - every week, I'm measuring a 185 ppm strong solution with a balanced 13-13-13 fertilizer.