Phragmipedium leaves
 

This phrag seem otherwise healthy with new growths etc, but is displaying these problems

I suspect sunburn (windowsill grown) but the problem is on both sides of the plant and I think only on side might actually be in the sun for any period of time.

Comments please.

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...um/Phrag_4.JPG

http://www.orchidboard.com/community...um/Phrag_2.JPG

Re: Phragmipedium leaves
 

Dave,

I had a Catleya that was beautiful, I split it once because it was bursting a large pot. Then I wanted to do it a favour and I put it in a nice shady place. Forgot about it, then the shady place turned into full strenght sun. It developed huge large black spots. Looked kind of like yours, except mine got badly exposed. So some leaves were half way black, had spots, etc..I'm no expert though. If my camera is charged I'll snap a pic.

Also, I noticed your images are not showing... I couldn't figure it out myself, then I saw that you have a space after the first IMG tag and before the closing /IMG tag. Once you remove those two spaces, pix will show up OK.... I could have fixed it for you, but then you wouldn't benefit from the tip :wink: Ah..the beauty of edit button :lol:

Thank goodness for the edit button -- it has once again saved me!

It looks to me like two things going on here. You will notice problems with leaves, particularly at the ends, when there is root tip damage and nutrients cannot get to the developing parts of the leaves quick enough to match growth. When in doubt, repot. The other issue that is apparent (from the brown spotting) is likely spider mite damage. You likely won't even see the mites, but the damage is pretty typical. Organic stuff for mites (including oils) is pretty lame. The best solutions are quite toxic and not easily available. If you have access to someone who still has any Wilson's Tree and Shrub spray, that works quite well, though it is no longer for sale. Barring this, you can use 90% alcohol with cotton swabs and wipe off all the leaves every couple of days for about two weeks. Soap spray does not work. Insecticides likewise do not work as mites are not insects. Hope this is of some help. (ps. mites don't like high humidity)

I have seen this before on plants at work and it appears to me to be a fungus. Typically they begin as yellow areas on the leaves undersides and darken and the spots become visible on both sided. Good air circulation, culture and hygien will help prevent this...spray plants using a fungicide containing benomyl, remove the severe damaged leaves but you can leave the less damaged leaves without doing harm to the rest of the plant.

My first thought was mites as well but they usually start with small patchy yellow spots and this I did not see at least in the photo's shown. If you see small patchy yellow spots it very well may be mites and the alcohol will do the trick.

The first one is not mite damage. I have a couple Phrags that do this occasionally. I think it may be more fertilizer/water quality than anything else. Cut the leaf back to the green and cinnamon the cut edge and hope it doesn't continue to spread.

How often and at what strength are you fertilizing and what is your water quality like?

The second photo I've no clue about...