Paph disease?

[SirCatofBloominCheshireC:]

Hi can anyone tell me if my Paph has a brown rot disease? I bought a Paph Lady Isabel which was a dream for me but it came with sunken brown spots all over the underside of the leaves, and a few sunken brownish areas on top of some of the leaves. The seller says it is from cold water spots, but I'm not sure. Any advice appreciated

[Roberta]

Those little spots don't look at all worrisome to me. I wonder if there might have been a case of scale that was treated... the pale spots won't go away if that was the case, but they won't get any bigger. Just keep an eye on it. The little brown specks don't look like a problem at all - if they don't spread or get soft, it's just a cosmetic issue.

[rbarata]

Looking at the leaves I think this is a cool growing plant.
Low temps+humidity can create this kind of "defects".
Increase air flow and it will prevent such issues in the future.
The brown spots, I agree with Roberta, I think it's nothing to worry about.

[Roberta]

I wouldn't think of Paph Lady Isabel as being especially cool-growing, but being half Paph. rothschildianum, would have no problem tolerating a bit of cold water - and occasional chill. A few dings are just part of life.

[rbarata]

Usually I think mottled leaves Paphs are warm growing while the thin leaved are cool. This is in general but I always confirm before buying.

[SirCatofBloominCheshireC:]

Thank you for your replies. I already had a few different paphs, both strap-leaf and Parvi paphs. I had just never run into one with so many sunken brown spots before, so it worried me a little. I was told by St Augustine Orchid Society to spray a coating of liquid copper mix all over the leaves to protect them in Winter against bacteria. I will certainly keep the airflow up around these beautiful plants. Thanks Roberta and rbarata!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Usually I think mottled leaves Paphs are warm growing while the thin leaved are cool. This is in general but I always confirm before buying.

There are lots of exceptions to that... the mottled-leaved Paph. Maudae types are generally warmer growing, the solid-green-leaved ones with lots of P. insigne or P. villosum or the "bulldogs" which also have solid green leaves, are cool growing. But solid-green multiflorals tend to be warmer growing (though Paph. rothschildianum and several of its hybrids benefit from a fall chill) and mottled-leaved Parvisepalums such as P. macranthum and P. armeniacum grow cool - but P. delenatii likes to be warmer. So.. not so simple, you really need to get down to the species (or parents for hybrids) In this case, Lady Isabel is roth x stonei (which is definitely a warm grower) So it can tolerate a chill but would rather be a little warmer most of the time.