Brown splotches on paphiopedilum leaf
 

Hello,

I was apart from my collection for a few weeks and have noticed a weird discoloration on my paphiopedilum since I have came back. I suspect it lacked water for some period of time given the black leaf tips, but I have never seen this before. I have ordered some microbial inoculate which I plan to spray on the leaves and water the plant with, but I was wondering if I should do anything while I wait for it to arrive.

Thank you for your time and help,

Nicolas D. Perez

I’ve done some research and think it could be Colletotrichum. I have never seen it before so I am assuming it’s usually an endophyte but the lack of water and decreased temperatures has caused it to become pathogenic. Would it make more sense to remove the diseased matter so hyphae doesn’t continue to spread throughout the leaves or wait to fight it off with orchid probiotics?

The leaf tips look like insufficient water. What were the temperatures? Light? Humidity? The position and appearance of the spot make me think of sunburn.

It definitely suffered insufficient water, but other than that it was left in a north facing window where it has grown for 4 years without any issues like this. I am not sure what the humidity levels are but I would put them at about 40-50% and this specimen has tolerated it.