Help needed...

[avin316]

Hi there! This is my first time posting here and also my first time growing an orchid or rather really trying hard to grow plants. Haha...

A few days ago, I bought this dendrobium from the florist and just yesterday, I found quite a few of black/dark spots which look like burnt mark to me on some of the leaves. Today, one of the leaves turned yellow and is really quite horrible.
I've consulted someone and it's said to be a viral infection. It's not severe however, nothing much can be done.
Just wondering if anyone here would maybe know of some ways that can be done to help this orchid. By the way, I'm from Singapore.
Thanks ya!
I'll try to submit the photos once I reached my 5 posts : s

[janet_a]

how long did all this take to develop? some dens just have little tiny black spots on their leaves--it's just their thing. also, the older leaves *will* turn yellow and come off eventually.

[chefatplay]

Hi, Avin 316, so sorry I can't help you with your problem, but, wanted to say hello, welcome to the forum. I don't grow dens, so my experience is nil. Don't worry though, so many here do, you will get plenty of help. Good luck!

[fred]

hi and welcome to the forum
I hope that you enjoy your stay here with us.
I have a link to the American Orchid Society Cultuer information
http://www.aos.org/aos/orchids/page01.aspx
you can click and download the culture sheets to you PC
if you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

[avin316]

Originally Posted by janet_a

how long did all this take to develop? some dens just have little tiny black spots on their leaves--it's just their thing. also, the older leaves *will* turn yellow and come off eventually.

Janet,

In just one to two days, from the burnt marks, the leaves will start to get yellow. Spreading from the marks. I just posted a few hours ago and now (7am in the morning in Singapore), some of the leaves with similar marks are turning yellow too. Guess when I reached home at night, they will be terrible. There are about 4-5 of them, apart from the first one which already yellowed and dropped off. Just wondering if I should cut them off before it spreads to the whole leave.
Thanks!!

[avin316]

Chefatplay and Fred,

Thanks so much for the warm welcome!
I shall try to learn more from here then. Haha...
Still exploring around.

[avin316]

Janet,

Updating the photos...


This was taken the day before. Two leaves are shown to be yellowing with the burnt marks.


This was taken yesterday, before the leaf fell off. It turned really yellow already.


This was taken minutes ago on the second leaf from the first photo. The yellow is spreading.


This is about some other leaves and was taken the day before.


This is how they look like now. Getting worse.


These 2 leaves are the leaves around the first rotten and fallen leaf. They start to develop the burnt marks too.

Really hope this is helping...

[brookn]

Looks bacterial or fungal. i would get it out of the pot and give it a good inspection of the roots. Let us know what they look like and we can go from there, but it may need a full repot for sure.

[janet_a]

agreed, if it's going that fast you've got some sort of rot. yank it out of the pot, clean off the medium, trim off any competely yellow leaves and above all, keep it away from other plants.

[avin316]

Thanks so much brookn and janet_a for the advices!
I've trimmed off all the infected leaves.
Due to lack of experience in gardening, I think I won't be able to do root inspection and stuffs, not to mention repotting. So sorry about that, I'm a noob! XD
However, I went to a local florist to seek help. They asked me to spray this fungicide.
So far, after trimming off the infected leaves, the plant looks fine. I shall try to observe for a few more days.

[janet_a]

yeah, a fungicide should help. if it dies, take it back and ask for your $$ back.

[avin316]

Originally Posted by janet_a

yeah, a fungicide should help. if it dies, take it back and ask for your $$ back.

Haha...
Maybe it's working? Maybe not...
although there are still small marks on 2 leaves... but they aren't spreading so far.
Will spray the fungicide again later. Hope it will be eradicated.
It's really kinda confused... 'cause some people said that it's a virus... XD

[tom499]

Viruses can show similiar signs, though are much deadlier (there is no cure)

I half think its sunburn, I get brown spots on my masd. when they get abit too much sun, and this can lead to a yellowing of the leaves, and they eventually fall off.

Dens are tougher plants, let it get some sun, just not direct hot rays, you can feel the leaves for this, if they feel warm its too sunny.

It could be fungal though, having checked the roots are healthy water your den a little less. Dont mist with water either. This dries the plant out abit and makes it harder fr fungi to grow.

Water by dunking the pot into water, not goin above the level of the medium. Do this in the morning only, and let it rest afterwards in a warm spot.

This will minimise damp and cold, which is what fungi and bacteria thrive on. Put a small amount of cinnamon on the plant where you have cut, to cover the open wounds. This will stop further attack, as it dries it out faster creating a barrier to fungi, bacteria and viruses.


BTW: welcome to the forum

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Well, I am not to sure why some of you want this plant pulled from its pot. The problem clearly is not related to a root condition. If the mix is not decomposed don't repot. The roots look quite healthy in the pictures, but up close and real, it may look different.

The dead leaf in the second picture is not of concern at all. It is an older leaf at the end of its life, and that is exactly how they look when they die naturally. The leaf tips in the pictures 1 and 3 may be a problem, but if you have cut them off with a little margin to spare, you can just wait and see what happens. The spotting you have may or may not be virus. I would say it is likely not virus, and is a result of a very wet and humid climate. You may want to keep the plant out of the rain. Just to be sure you don't transmit virus to other plants if this one is virused, always sterilize tools between plants (not alcohol), and wash hands well, maybe using disposable gloves, any time you have to handle orchid roots, or other portions of an orchid, with open wounds, such as in repotting. Other wise, there isn't much worry about the possibility of virus, as it takes an open wound to allow infection by a virus on tools, hands or fingernails. There are other signs of virus that may be clear to someone looking at the actual plant, so don't discount the comments of very knowledgeable growers.