Senzai with black marks under the leaves

[Seri]

Hello!
I had bought my firs neo 2 weeks ago. Overall the plants seems healthy but it has a few dark marks under some of the leaves. I have been searching for info on orchid deseases but didn't find anything to aid me in making a precise diagnostic.
So:
-delivery took 4 days, outside temperatures being around 27/18C day/night
-roots were wrapped in spagnum and placed in a plastic pot
-it had bad infestation of Thrips (i think), so i threw the moss away and spraeyed the plant with insecticidal soap
-the plant arrived with these black spots which are mostly on one side of the plant (only one leaf has them on both sides) and they didn't grow bigger in 2 weeks as far as i can tell
-the first week the plant stagnated and then i observed new leaves emerging from 3 growths.
Giving that the stem and roots have black markings as well (not as prominent as those on leaves though), i am concerned with the plant's health and welkome any advice.

[Shoreguy]

Black marks on roots are common and generally are harmless. Black marks on leaves may be caused by water droplets remaining on plant overnight. If they don't spread, the plant will grow out of it, eventually dropping those leaves and producing clean ones. Just be careful of your watering practices. Only water in the morning, preferably on sunny days.

[Seri]

Thank you for your reply! i'm glad i'ts not anything serious :")

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

Black marks on roots are common and generally are harmless. Black marks on leaves may be caused by water droplets remaining on plant overnight. If they don't spread, the plant will grow out of it, eventually dropping those leaves and producing clean ones. Just be careful of your watering practices. Only water in the morning, preferably on sunny days.

I completely agree with the above, and think it is most probably the cause. Misting and watering only early in the day is always good advice. Assuring good air movement at all times is also preventative.

Leaves and roots can also be damaged by poor quality or excessively concentrated dry or liquid fertilizers or other chemicals that collect in the leaf axles or growing point. The chemicals concentrate as they dry.

The dark discoloration on the tops of the roots is a pattern that looks like chemical burns, though this is hardly certain.

K-Sci

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[Seri]

I have read that roots may be affected when the growth medium is changed to a different one. After 14 days since i have the plant, about half of the roots seem thinner and more brownish. But i see 2 new root buds emerging at the botton of the plant. Never owning a neo before wanted me to ask for your opinion on the overall health of the plant i had purchased, giving that black spots are rarely a good sign. I grow this plant in a perlite/vermiculite mix with lava rock top dressing, in a modified regular orchid plastic pot riddled with holes and a hollow tube in the center. I water when the pot reaches the "dry" weight. The plant has its own led growlight and it takes 1 hour till its leaves a dry after i occasionally mist it. I hope this setup will be neo-friendly because it's very low maintenance. Thank you for your replies. The information on this forum helped me a lot prior to my neo purchase :")

[Ray]

Don't mist the plant. It serves no purpose, other than providing pockets of water for bacteria or fungi to grow in.

[Shoreguy]

Seri,

Can you give your plant some natural sunlight? I only grow all my plants just under sunlight as I feel they prefer that over artificial lighting.

[K-Sci]

The mention of misting reminded me of another possible cause for your black spots. Leaves and roots can be burned by the mineral buildup that comes from regular misting with some types of hard or salt-softened water. If you must mist, such as when growing indoors and you need to raise the humidity, use de-mineralized water.

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[Seri]

Originally Posted by Shoreguy

Seri,

Can you give your plant some natural sunlight?

The plant is in an East facing indoor balcony with plenty of indirect sunlight, growlight is just a bonus.

---------- Post added at 05:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:42 AM ----------

Originally Posted by K-Sci

If you must mist, such as when growing indoors and you need to raise the humidity, use de-mineralized water.

I use water filtered by active chalcoal which should remove minerals. I only mist the entire plant when using growth stimulators to help it get use to new growing environment. After almost 3 weeks since i have it, i can see new leaves developing fast for such a tiny plant. The new leaf of the main growth is about 4mm longer than it was 2 weeks ago since i had noticed the plant "wakening up" after shipping. So everybody is happy 😍

[K-Sci]

Originally Posted by Seri

The plant is in an East facing indoor balcony with plenty of indirect sunlight, growlight is just a bonus.

---------- Post added at 05:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:42 AM ----------



I use water filtered by active chalcoal which should remove minerals. I only mist the entire plant when using growth stimulators to help it get use to new growing environment. After almost 3 weeks since i have it, i can see new leaves developing fast for such a tiny plant. The new leaf of the main growth is about 4mm longer than it was 2 weeks ago since i had noticed the plant "wakening up" after shipping. So everybody is happy 😍

Great news! If the spots don't advance, as you said, you don't have a problem.

In case it is important for your watering goals, dissolved minerals (manganese, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, carbonate, and bicarbonate) and salts aren't removed in significant amounts by activated carbon. If you want a test, pour some water on a sheet of glass. If it dries leaving "water spots" that's the minerals and salts. De-mineralized (de-ionized) water dries leaving nothing.