Small white pits...I might be crazy...

[Miadunn]

Hey guys!! Everyone always talks about how addicting growing orchids can be but I think that in my case a certain amount of PARANOIA is in play.

Call me crazy but just to be safe can anyone identify what these small white pits in my leaves are and this stippling of the leaves... I haven't seen any bugs but who knows with the descriptions of some of these pests...

These are the orchids I have had for awhile. I just bought some more but they are in isolation right now. I have noticed some spots on the leaves of these particular orchids and want to make sure it isn't something that will spread or eat my other plants...


Also, in this picture it is on the bottom most leaf next to the center of the plant.. I know it is hard to see.

These photos are of a small plant that was a Kieki from another plant that has since died. Can you see how some of it is yellowing and looks like some of the cells have collapsed?



I should note that the spots are on each leaf not just the top leaves. Not much going on underneath the leaves. And I did the cotton ball test and no brown stuff...

[ronaldhanko]

Some of these looks like mechanical damage and some like water spots, i.e., the spots left by drops of water on the leaves in high light. I don't see anything that looks like insect damage, bacterial infection or anything serious.

[Miadunn]

Great, thank you!! I have killed a few of these as I am learning, and this one is finally starting to grow roots!!! I saw a bug on another plant and when I started reading all these posts about bugs I got nervous. That one is isolation but I can never be too careful.

[OrchidDude]

looks like a virus to me!!!!


just kidding... I am a encountering a degree of paranoia with my new found passion

[tucker85]

I agree, it looks like cell collapse from mechanical damage. I've seen it on many plants and it doesn't harm the orchid or spread. One other thing that can cause cell collapse on the leaves is watering the plant with very cold water. In the winter you may want to consider letting the water warm up a little before you use it on the plants.