Identifying leaf lesions on mini Phalenopsis
 

Hello,

I am relatively new to orchids, but have been growing a small collection quite successfully in semi-water culture. This mini phal has happily been putting out new roots and new leaves for the past three months since I purchased it, but I never really stopped to think about what these leaf lesions meant until today. (Because I am a foolish novice.)

Admittedly, these were discounted orchids rotting in saturated substrate at a hardware store. Not the highest quality, but they've been doing so well I'd like to save them.

The lesions are dry and slightly sunken, scentless, with a dark brown center.

I've been scouring orchid diseases, and I really hope this isn't a virus. Unfotunately, I haven't been able to find any pictures that match closely enough for me to confidently diagnose what is happening.

Any help would be appreciated. I would rather not throw it out if it is treatable, but I don't want to infect the others.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

It looks to me like something splashed on the leaves and damaged them. Did you ever use water that was a lot warmer, or cooler, than room temperature? Could the plant have been in the kitchen near a boiling pot that sprayed hot water, or a coffee maker that sprayed steam?

I hope it something simple like physical injury
 

The lesions were there when I bought it, and it definitely wasn't recieving proper care.

The blemishes are only present on two leaves in the middle of the stack, the two leaves it has grown since I bought it are untouched. I'm hoping it was damaged at some point when the affected leaves were at the top?

As long as it doesn't look like some obvious orchid ailment I'm too new to recognize. :)

It looks like a one-time injury to me.

Grow them in the proper environment and it should be fine. There's no need to toss it.

I agree, it looks like physical damage. To show you how easily this can happen, this morning I got a dab of Dawn power eraser dish soap on a Wilsonara leaf and before I saw it and wiped it off, it had left a clear spot. It took her color right out of the leaf in seconds.