Cattleya: virus, bacteria or sun burn on leaves?

[adalberto09]

Hi,

I am completely new to the “orchid world” and to this “orchid board”. I’ve shown interest for orchids for about 3 months now and in these months I’ve acquired about 60 different orchids. I know it’s going to be challenging for me, but I’m ready to learn. Last weekend a friend of mine gave me one of her cattleya orchids as a gift (she has a whole bunch). As I was observing it I noticed that 3 of the leafs have black marks on them. I’m not sure if this is a virus, bacteria or if it’s just a sun burn. I currently have it separate from all the others orchids. Please let me know what it is or what it could be and what to do. Btw I tried uploading the photos but I think they are too large. I can email them to whoever would like to see the pictures.

Regards,
Adalberto

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

I can't help much but here is a handy tool for shrinking photos. They really would help I think for this problem. VSO Image Resizer, Resize Pictures, Image Converter, Photo Resizer Light

I also posted a couple of tips for using it on this post. Tips for posting Photos

[Bud]

Use a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide to wipe the leaves clean, and repeat it the next week...observe if the black patches are getting bigger...if so, cut the infected area and dab cinnamon paste(cinnamon powder with water into paste) It is a fungi by the looks of the yellowish ring around the black patches...isolate it from the rest of your plants...
bacteria infestation is fast...it will decimate your plant in a couple of days...
virus can only be proven by testing.