Help-Stanhopea Embrei with diseased leaves

[jen]

I hope someone out there is a Stanhopea expert; I have a Stan Embrei that had some small black spots on the leaves in June when I got it but the plant seemed very healthy. It has been growing well and produced an inflorescence with two big fat flower buds that so far have only opened just a wee bit (they have been there several weeks and are starting to brown at the tips, so I don't think they plan on opening any farther) Anyhow, the leaves are in really bad shape now, with many black spots and now large areas of them are turning light grayish-tan and drying out and turning brown...there are only five leaves. I water it every other day and keep it slightly moist-it is spagnum moss and an open slatted basket. I fertilize about every 10 days. There are no pests on it that I can see. Please Help!

[smweaver]

What kind of light conditions do you have the plant in? Stanhopeas generally don't respond very well to direct sun during the growing season (the few plants I have get maybe an hour of direct sun each morning on the east corner of my house before they're protected from any further sunlight by a tree, and the plants all grow and flower well for me). Can you post a picture of the plant and/or leaves? This genus of orchids also can develop black spots on the leaves, but they don't normally cause any harm (they're especially prone to the black spots appearing on the older leaves). Also, you might want to water it a bit more often, especially now that it's got flower buds. Mine get drenched every morning, and on really hot days they get hosed down again in the afternoon. If you could post a picture or two, it might help the numerous people who grow these plants give you better advice than what I'm giving you now without the benefit of seeing what your plant looks like.

[Frdemetr]

Jen,
Smweaver is right, some pics are very important to make a "diagnosis". Try to show the whole plant and both sides of affected leaves. I have a big number of Stans and they are very resistant to fungus/bacterial infections; old leaves often show some black spots, but these spots are not spread. In my plants there are two main big problems that generate black spots: spider mites and "false spider mites" (an insect, Tenthecoris bicolor). Both attack the reverse of leaves, and in some cases they cause serious damage, including the loss of the leaf. In this case, to control the pest you'll need a correct mitecide or insecticide.

[cneos]

I agree with above comments about what is ailing your stanhopea, but really would like to see photos to confirm diagnosis. You don't want to 'drown' any orchid, but stanhopea needs lots of water, especially when buds are being produced and flowers opening. Sounds like flower buds have blasted.

Someone once suggested that stanhopea blooms from the bottom of the pot because its beautiful flowers, though short-lived, didn't want to be seen among such ugly leaves that some stanhopea tend to have.

[Manfred Busche]

Hello Jen.
Sorry-sorry-sorry ... your plant Stanhopea embreei
is losing her struggle...
You might get yourself a new plant and then follow
the suggestions you may find at :
..."AmandaTom, Stanhopea platyceras bud drop"...
Regards, MANFRED.