Cattleya leaf disease or damage
 

I assumed based on the location, that what is on these leaves was due to the leaf edges rubbing against the plastic bag that it was kept in. It's a bag baby, and I know that fungal/cold damage can set in under those circumstances. I've looked at virus photos on the web and don't feel confident that it is definitely a virus. Can the board weigh in? Should I throw it away, cut the leaves, or leave it alone?

I don't think its a virus since it is localized to the most prominent edges of the most prominent leaves. It could be fungal or bacterial tho. I would trim those nasty parts off and treat the cut edges with cinnamon or an antiseptic such as hydrogen peroxide. I would also isolate it and see what happens. If you have something like Physan you use it after removing the bad parts.

I agree with Silken about it being fungal or bacterial. Yesteday, when I was at Lowes seversl of their bag babies had the exact same markings on the leaves.

I like to use the risk/benefit scale when undecided. I no longer have enough room for a quarantine infirmary, nor the time.
My vote is ... orchid heaven. :twocents: :goodluck:

I went halfway. On balance, the roots were in great condition upon repot 1 day ago. He has two emerging new growths and a third that looks ready to go as soon as it gets warmer. Since, I have quarantine space, the poor guy is now sharing my semi shaded south kitchen window with the other new bag baby plus a recently acquired noid dendrobium, all of which have been newly repotted.

Also, he got a haircut and cinnamon treatment on his leaves. Next I'll wipe all of the leaves with my anti fungal and see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

I should also add that since I'm still less than 20 plants, there isn't very much crowding, and if it is a fungal, I should be ok from the sheer fact that my humidity is at the absolute min range for orchid growing.

Has anyone had this happened from water droplets staying on the leaves (my theory). Water damage is what it looked like up close. Hard little depressions. The leaf flesh was still very firm even right next to the blackened marks.

It could be water damage. I think it will be just fine and there is much more healthy looking leaf than there was bad looking parts.

I had a similar problem on one of my cattleyas. I'm new at this and I thought it was sun damage or cold damage. I quarantined it from my others and it didn't spread and new growth is clean. It is very ugly and I was about to throw it out. It too was a bag baby. It's growing faster than all the others.

See to it and when you notice the symptom comes back, it is best to toss if you have many other plants in the collection.

To me, that looks like a fungal or bacterial disease of some sort.

looks more like possible cold damage to me...those bag babies have a hard life! good luck!