Freakish *bubble* on leaf of healthy Vanda coerulea

[beanluc]

Hi, I got this Vanda coerulea last September. It seems healthy, it's growing even though it's the middle of the winter, but it developed a weird discolored swelling on one leaf!

The blemish appeared a month after I brought it home. It grew for a few weeks and stopped. So it's been there, unchanging, for more than 2 months now.

Anybody know what it's all about?

The swollen area is discolored - almost bleached or something, except it's gray instead of yellow. The very edges of the swelling are a little black. This is under the cuticle, it's not some mildew or such, growing on the surface.

That's the main thing I want to know about. But while we're at it, the same plant had a black spot low on the stem when I got it. Looks like maybe old water damage or something? The spot hasn't grown or spread since I've had it. Any ideas?

Thanks! Here are pictures

[brookn]

That's a new one on me. I hope someone comes along that has seen this before. Welcome to the forum.

[amersault]

that almost looks like a blister from sunscald but i'm no Vanda expert, not having any in my collection.

the area where you grow it is right up against the glass; it could be that at the hottest hours of the day, the glass only magnifies the heat on that one spot.

anybody else vote 'sunscald'?

[kid a]

At first glance i was going to ask if it had liquid in it but upon enlargin the picture it doesn't look it does though. My best guess would be that it could be from the sun not so much a burn but maybe it is getting really warm or had gotten really warm and kind of toasted the leaf surface a little and warped it to raise up and discolor. I have a catt type plant that has something similar and I had for about five months before I noticed the spot on it and it was after I had moved outside into a more sunny spot and some of the other leaves actually burnt, but this a vanda and they are high light lovers. The other spot looks like it had a scrape or surface scratch or something and dried up. I would say as long as it doesn't spread and seem soft you should be ok on that one. A thing to try would be take a cotton ball with some peroxide and dab it on that area and see of it bubbles or sizzles. If not you should be good the peroxide doesn't hurt it, it helps dry up bacterial spots n stuff Hope that helps but not sure if it will help much or not.

[digitalgate]

second picture bacteria infection/ chemical burn cut 1 cm from the part.
third picture you have fungus problem. split the leaf into two from the centre of the leaf and cut the leaf away. Becareful to prevent the spreading of the black fungus as it might
lead to crown rot and you lose the plant. Cut it quickly.

[beanluc]

Kid A, no, it's not a liquid blister. It's firm.

Amersault, I know the picture makes it look like windowburn can happen but its leaves are really a foot away from the glass. It's hanging more in front of the wire shelf rather than on the righthand window.

Digitalgate, I'll wait for now since these problems haven't been spreading. Thanks to everyone for responding!

[willowbanks]

Hello Beanluc, the bottom photo (brown mark) looks clearly like mechanical damage and looks like it has sealed up ok, it's like us humans, we get a solid bump and bruise, your plant has had some pressure applied to that leaf area. With plants, the bruise is a permanent mark.

The freakish growth photo, well that is different, I've never had a Vanda do this but I have had some Cattleyas and Dendrobium over the years with strange deformities in/on leaves, can't explain it, hasn't effected the plant in any way.

It is not fungal.

My suggestion would be to get a fine point permanent felt pen and draw a border around the growth, that way you can monitor the swollen area more easily. I would love to know if it increases in size.

Bill

[beanluc]

Originally Posted by willowbanks

My suggestion would be to get a fine point permanent felt pen and draw a border around the growth, that way you can monitor the swollen area more easily. I would love to know if it increases in size.

Cool, thanks, Bill, actually I've been using photos for that purpose so far. It grew during October and stopped. The growth has been fine since then, and the plant seems healthy enough, steadily growing so far just about one new leaf every 5-6 weeks.

[frostychic]

Hi

I have to agree with willowbanks regarding the brown bruise. I have a Vanda that I transported in my suitcase and it got "squeezed" in one spot similar to yours on the "stalk" of the plant... first it was very light colored right after the squeeze and it was quite healthy without any issues before I moved it ... the spot slowly turned dark brownish-black... stayed that way... and other than that has been unaffected by the squeeze.

I haven't seen the other issue that looks like a blister but I'm also new to orchids...

[solay]

Not sure what it is either but I got the same thing on my Phal. leaves once I moved them into the G/H. I was sure it was due to the high light and heat. I cut it off to be on the safe side.
I wonder if it is heat related?! The surface feels and looks like it blistered.