Vanda orchid bacterial spots need suggestions

[Smom1976]

Good morning everyone. I came to this thread looking for some assistance. A few months back I purchased an orchid from Lowes on clearance for 5$. I have never had an orchid before I figured this one would be a good opportunity to learn without too much lost investment. I have purchased many of my plants from clearance and most are thriving. Again my first orchid. Things I have learned so far. #1 this is a vanda orchid. #2 this little guy loves water. I learned that the white roots are a sign that it needs water they should be green in color. I let the little guy soak in the sink or a bucket or a nice dip in the pond for a few min, maybe 10 and they turn nice and green. (My first lesson) #3 this guy came to me with a bacteria! I originally was thinking that the spots were due to lack of water initially. However they are still there after solid months of watering. My orchid during the days that is warm spends its days outside in morning sun under a pergola. it is getting cold here now in the panhandle of Florida so I have brought all my warm weather plants indoors, many are not happy but they will thank me later. They dont realize its 30 degrees outside. I still am watering my orchid by both dipping and giving it a spritz every once in a while.

Questions I have I read these black spots are probably bacteria. I would like to try cutting them and using the hydrogen peroxide and dakins 10% bleach solution. How exactly should I go about that? Do I cut the whole leaf off or just the black part? And do I just spritz the bleach or hydrogen peroxide? For how long and how often?

I am also including a picture of the roots some do not go between shiny white and green they have more of a brown hue to them do I need to clip these off?

At what point do I need to fertilize?

In a couple months I will be able to put my plant back outside to enjoy the florida weather but until then its huddled inside with the rest with a few days here and there of outside time. This week is supposed to be warmer.

Thanks for the help and hopefully I will be able to rehab this guy.

[SaraJean]

I’m going to bump this up and hopefully you will get some more responses

Disclaimer: I do not grow Vandas. I kill Vandas. More dead Vandas than I care to admit- though I do currently have 4 that are ok (FINALLY)

To my eyes that looks like sunburn. It may have developed a secondary infection where the suns rays hit it, but if it’s dry and not spreading you could let it be. Once a leaf is damaged, it won’t heal and go back to looking normal. If you want to trim off the leaf you can, I don’t really see a need to treat it. I’ll use bleach to sterilize my cutting tools and surfaces but I haven’t tried using it on the actual orchid.

I wouldn’t trim any of those roots, they look ok.

I can’t really speak to the fertilizer question, I know they like fertilizer. I have been making a little tea bag filled with time release balls and hang that with my vandas so they get a little bit at every watering.

[DMT]

Vandas like to eat. I have not cut any roots off of my Vanda, going on 3 years.

[aliceinwl]

I don't grow Vanda either, but my impression was sunburn too. My Lowe's doesn't carry Vanda (I probably wouldn't be able to resist if they did), but they put their clearance Phalaenopsis outside on a cart that gets full sun. If your Lowe's does something similar, there's probably a good chance of burns.

My inclination would be to wait and watch before cutting. I'd only cut if there were indications the infection was spreading. If the plant seems to be well established and growing for you, however, it could probably tolerate cosmetic trimming?

[WeirdGuySeattle]

agreed with the folks here. Those dead leaf spots could be from a few sources - bacteria, sunburn (which opened up a spot for bacteria), water pooling on the leaves for too long, cold damage.
In any case - I agree, those look mostly healed to me, and you should only worry if those spots are spreading to the stem / other leaves.
The roots also look fine to me - though maybe some are squishy? Check to see if they are squishy and rotted, or stiff and living (without breaking them!)

As far as culture goes - I am not sure I can help much other than if you are finding rotted roots - you may be over watering (but that is tough to do on air roots like that). They can take a little water break and not have their roots green, especially if it gets cold.

When their roots go white, it just means they are protecting themselves from rapid water loss, but they might even like a day or two between watering.