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Phalaenopsis leaf damage; identifying the cause(s)

6 years ago

As you can see, there are some white and dried spots all over the leaves, i suspect the cause might be too much light (but i am quite new to taking care of orchids). If you notice something else that might look like a problem, i would be more than glad to listen.

Thank you in advance.

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Comments (4)

James _J
6 years ago
I don't think it's from too much light. The round spots look like insect damage, the others look like mechanical damage like the leaf was folded or bent and cracked. It could have happened a while ago and scar tissue developed later.

The leaves do look a little dehydrated, could be from not enough water or from roots getting too much water and rotting. Could also be low humidity high heat. Or quit a few thing. It all depends on what your environment is like.
Alfred Alcalá thanked James _J
jane__ny
6 years ago
Where do you live? What zone and how are you growing this plant. Hard to help without further info.

Jane
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LOVE THE PINE STRAW .... don't recognize the name.. WELCOME .... forget about the damage .... something caused an insult to the tissue in early spring .... look toward the center and all the new growth is just peachy ... so .. nothing to worry about ... clip off the offending leaves if they bug you that much .... the first two look like undulatas... #2 undulata albomarginata [albo=white .... marginata=edge] .... but i am not real good at the ID game.... i am sure others will chime in ... there is a link to an website for such .... browning edge is too much hot afternoon sun .. or not enough water .... or both ... increase water ... and dont go by what new transplants do .... they need a few years to get a good root mass ... it may not burn down the line .... again .. its the first leaves to emerge.. the center ones look great... so it probably got nipped by frost when it first came up.. as it hasnt been hot enough nor the sun high enough in the sky for burn to show up ... whenever you see damage... think back in time 3 to 4 weeks ... because that is when it happened.. you are just seeing the result now .... next time... a few less questions per post .. lol .... good luck ken
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Thank you, jean! It didn't cross my mind that it could be leafminers because I didn't see any of the typical "tunnels" in the leaf surface. I suppose I'll just pull off the damaged leaves and dispose of them. I don't want to use an insecticide and I'm not even sure it would help much with leafminers, anyway. Thanks, again! RENEE
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Bill and Jack, Thanks for that info. I'm in the San Gabriel Valley (Rosemead). Heat probably does radiate off that wall. Those plants along the wall get 9-10 hrs. of sun a day. I'll have to move the younger plants where they get some afternoon shade. I've been racking my brains out as to how I want to fix that area so I can display my plants there. It's a planter that runs the width of my backyard. I've been thinking about covering that wall with a bamboo screen that I can get at Home Depot and covering the dirt with some type of wood decking. I just need to get motivated and stop being so lazy. I'll will give my plants more potassium. I do notice how some of you knowledgeable growers have very lush plants with plenty of leaves. Growing these plants is sure a science!. Jack, when you refer to Mag, are you referring to Magnesium? Can this combination of potassium and mag be bought in one fertilizer or are they separate chemicals? I've rambled on long enough. Thanks again, Rick
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Ben(8b/9a north FL)
6 years ago
nothing to be concerned about, your plant is fine, the ribs in the leaves are a good indication of good root system, I would not change course on whatever you're doing to the plant
Alfred Alcalá thanked Ben(8b/9a north FL)
Alfred Alcalá
Original Author
6 years ago
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.

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