spotty oncidiums

[eikon]

what's the deal with spots on oncidiums? some growers are telling me that it may be fungal, others are telling me that's just the way they are. can anyone shed some light on this for me??

thanks
spotty.jpg

[mayres]

Will see what the experts have to say, but my experience is that small black spots is semi-normal on oncidiums but the larger black spots shown on the leaf in your photo is not. Personally I would cut those spots off - cut the whole leaf just below the lowest spots - to keep that from spreading. Environmental factors often lead to this phenomena - I actually have the same plant that your photo is taken of and it has never had black spots. Water on leaves with the temperature dropping is sometimes blamed. Virus can be a cause of this (of which Cynthia may add info concerning later?).

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

That leaf looks like it has had a little mechanical damage and the spots at the tip are probably fungus taking advantage of the damage, but I don't think it represents a problem. Viral spots have a tendency to run along the veins of the leaf. If anyone would like to see a few pictures of virus symptoms, here are some I have been collecting. I will be updating this site in a few weeks and will let everyone know when I do.
http://www.pbase.com/schnitz/virus_in_orchids
Cynthia

[eikon]

ok, thanks, that helps put my mind at ease, i have cut off the worst of it and reshaped the leaf tip.

[relakii]

Originally Posted by eikon

what's the deal with spots on oncidiums? some growers are telling me that it may be fungal, others are telling me that's just the way they are. can anyone shed some light on this for me??

thanks
Attachment 176

Well now a spotty oncidium, so what is new about that, some used to think it was FLEC Virus but test's have proven that it is not, it is a common thing with oncidiums, they seem to want to have something all of there own, it is not a problem as new leaves are not afected by it and Judges at show's put it down as just on of them thing like a rash that will not go away, it realy is not a problem,
The damage to the leaf is more like water damage caused by the plants being watered to late in the day and not getting time to dry off before the night cold air hit's them, just cut it off ,it will not harm the plant,
Good Growing .
Relakii

[jerrymeola]

Since I am a grower I will give you the definitive answer that it can be either.

Generally if the spots grow it is possibly fungal and if they do not get bigger they are normal.

Spots can also grow a the old leaf dies so since growing spots will never look good again cut off any leaves where the spots are getting doubling in two or three days.

Your photo looks like a damaged leaf dying naturally. Cut it or it will fall off in a few weeks. It is not important either way. I often just cut the damaged portion to make it look better. If the leaf is dying it will fall off naturally.

[atcrosby]

Jerry -
My Brassia has similar spots and they don't seem to be growing. Is this normal for this type of orchid?

I also have one leaf where there is a black line down the middle of the leaf but has not gotten longer or wider. Is this just another deviation of the black spot?

Otherwise, the orchid is doing well and has new leaves coming in at the bottom.