that is persea mites (very common). It can reduce vigor of the tree...but not usually critical. Spray Agri-Mek or buy "beneficial" predators (which worked well for me). Google it...a good site from UC is available.

Not a disease. Environmental stress. Did you harden them off? Or has it been extra bright and/or warm/hot, and/or dry, and/or windy?

I have had a lyrata for about seven months. Every time a new leaf grows, there are small brown spots on it from the very start of its growth. What could be the cause of this? The lyrata is in a room that receives bright, indirect light. I water when I stick my finger in the soil and it's dried out a bit. About a month ago, two new leaves were starting to come in, and they shriveled and fell off. There are two more new leaves that came in after that that seem to be doing better. I haven't fertilized it since I brought it home and was postponing that until I figured out what the spots were.

jane__ny My zone is 9b - 10a. The phalaenopsis receives some hours of, basically, full sun everyday, thanks to my window's lack of curtains. I water it every 4th day (but sometimes i kinda forget the day i last watered it, so it might be more like every 5th to 6th day). I bought the orchid 4 months ago and i am waiting for its 'dormant' period to repot it (So i haven't fertilized it yet). James AKA lumpy_j The orchid has received some mechanical damage indeed. My empty-headed roommates threw it on the floor more than once a couple of weeks ago. The average relative humidity is around 55% (First half of the year) and the average temperature is around 64F, but it varies greatly through the day. Some solenopsis sp. are the only insect i have ever seen around my orchid. Ben(8b/9a north FL) Thanks, i get kinda nervous every time i get a new family of plants, so every little problem must be solved. I am more of a Cactaceae kind of guy, so orchids are quite new to me.