Black pitted spots on Zygos

[Syrinth]

Hello, this problem occurred a while ago, but I am still dealing with it and never got a satisfactory answer...

Long story short, I have a propetallum mathina and a zygonisia cynosure. They both got something that essentially resulted in THIS:



The propetallum is most likely on death's doorstep... the new growth it had rotted away at the base as did one of it's p-bulbs... I've sprayed the plants with green earth fungicide and sequestered them...

The zygonisia has a lot of spots on it but I think it might pull through... can anyone help me out at all?

Any ideas?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Would it be possible to post the growing parameters?

Such as:

temperature
humidity

Do you mist the leaves at all.

Is it near a draft?

[Syrinth]

I don't mist the leaves, it's been near an open window and the zygonisia is currently in my bedroom where I have a ceiling fan going since this first started happening.

Temperature and humidity have been natural for my area, apparently it's been around 60% or so... with the temperatures in the mid to high twenties.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

How long ago did this happen?

How long have you had the plant?

[Syrinth]

where were you when this issue first came up? lol

I got the plant sometime in December I believe, and the issue first happened sometime in June I believe, since it was just after the last orchid society meeting and I had no way of contacting them

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Aiya! Got work dude!

Alright, all joking aside. I think it's the draft from the open window that causes that.

I had a Zygopetalum that did the exact same thing a long time ago when I first purchased it. Prior to my care, it was growing in a greenhouse. When it was under my care, I grew outdoors on the porch. And when it was grown on the porch, the leaves started to look like the way your Zygo's leaves were.

After a while, the plant adjusted, and the subsequent leaves no longer did that.

As far as what you'd like to do to solve the problem, I'll leave that up to you. But at least you have some idea as what factors into it.

[Syrinth]

Wait, actually come to think of it, the window WASN'T open before the marks first appeared... I seem to recall being told that it was a lack of circulation issue and I opened up the window immediately after that...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Okay...

The only other thing other than air circulation, humidity, a change in environment, drafts, and temperature being the problem is...

Root rot.

Have you checked the roots?

[Syrinth]

I've checked the roots on both plants, the Zygonisia's roots were fine whereas the Propertalum's were/are rotting... I think part of the cause might be that the Propetalum is in a sphag/perlite/bark mix while the Zygonisia is just in bark.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Do you happen to use tap water for these too?

Zygos, Zygo relatives, and their hybrids tend to be a bit sensitive to high concentrations of dissolved minerals in the water. They can easily get leaf blemishes and leaf tip die back as a result. Especially Pabstia jugosa.

There might be one other thing to look for, but I'm blanking out at the moment...