Catt leaf turning black?

[chrono]

I have a catt that has about 4 stalks (or whatever you call them). One of the newer ones (the 3rd) had a leaf that turned black last year and I thought it is due to sun exposure after treatment with insecticidal soap for red mites. However, the newest leaf now show signs of black patches too. Is the plant stressed? Should I put it in the shade? I tried scraping it with my nail but nothing appears to be coming off. It looks a little "cooked" because the black portion is wrinkly. I'm also concerned because this newest leaf is in the process of supporting a new baby catt which hasn't its own roots yet.

[butt0n]

Sounds like it got a bit too much sun.

[evagentry]

Post a picture if you can, catts. seem to have a problem with a disease that causes black spots that spred quickly.

[sandra]

How strange, I was going to post pics earlier regarding the same thing going on with my Catt (Burana Beauty)....the leaves have turned spotted and black and shiny. The new growths as well....black. I took it down earlier, put it on the table, left to go to the dentist and run some errands, came home and there was my cat chewing on my catt! Inbetween the gazillion teeth marks, you can hardly see the black spots on mine now. Lilly cured it but good.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Post a pic. It really is necessary.

That new baby plant is no doubt just the normal new growth a Cattleya produces each year, and will be where the next set of flowers occurs if the plant has be grown well. Don't think of it as a new plant, as this is a necessary part that must stay with the old plant. A new growth occurs at the front/leading end of the plant, and the oldest bulb/leaf is cast off at some age. But in cultivation, we usually cut off the oldest bulbs, before they wither, leaving no less than 3 healthy growths in a row, but usually it is better to keep 4 or 5 in at row. If the bulbs removed look in reasonably good condition, you can sometimes start a new plant from them.