Vanda with some major issues

[Paul Mc]

I'm not sure what to make of this. It's the only Vanda in my collection exhibiting these worsening symptoms. When they first started, I assumed insect issues since it was outside then wondered if it wasn't too much light. I have it hanging with all of my other Vandas and none exhibit these issues to date. I moved it last year to a shadier location and the symptoms seemed to slow and this year have sped up again now that it is outside in my Vanda spot.

Someone mentioned it looked like fertilizer burn to me, which may be possible, but honestly they are very lucky if they get any fertilizer weekly. I know, shame on me... I'm working on that.

My concern is that it may be virus related, but after 2 years of being in this condition it hasn't spread to other orchids, only gotten worse on this particular one. It's Vanda coerulea.


I'm out of thoughts. Can you help me figure this out?

[Paul Mc]

My apologies for the duplicate post. It timed out on my for the original post and I didn't see it 2 minutes later so I assumed it didn't go through.

[nikkik]

Paul, what are the light levels and temperature in its "vanda spot"? I ask because Vanda coerulea is a cooler growing species and I noticed in your post you said it grows with your other vandas. Are the other vandas that you grow warm or cool growing plants?

[tucker85]

Are the brown spots dry and papery or soft and mushy?

[Vanda lover]

That is very strange. Could it be getting too hot?

[ALToronto]

I have very similar issues with some of my phals. No insects, no burns, not spreading to neighbouring non-phals. But the dry brown and yellow spots grow until the entire leaf withers, and then it starts on the next leaf. I think it's either a bacterial or a fungal infection that seems to have an affinity for just one genus. I haven't been able to solve it, and I'm watching some of my favourite plants slowly succumb.

[tarev]

I grow my Vanda coerulea hanging by my water fountain, and sometimes I even dip it into the fountain, and often times I do another round of spraying on to the roots in the afternoon. It is a cool growing-type Vanda. Gets lots of air circulation and I have it in part sun/part shade area, especially come the hotter time of the afternoon.

I am thinking maybe your Vanda is getting sunburnt. Try to move it in a little shadier spot.

[Vanda lover]

sunburn is certainly a possibility.

[Paul Mc]

Tucker, they are dry and papery, but have yellow rings around the areas as things progress or start developing. The underside looks exactly the same as the upper side of the leaf. Still, not mushy at all.

During the winter, I keep it in the basement directly under grow lights. The temps hover around 60F and can drop to 55F during a deep, hard freeze. I have my Vanda's circling the base of an 80 year old Pin Oak tree. It gets direct sun in the morning until about 10am or so, then again around 6pm until sunset. When I had moved it to another sheltered location that only received direct morning light, I did notice the issue seemed to slow. Unfortunately, we did have highs near 100F for a few days recently, and it was a day or two later I noticed the issue escalating. You might have something there!

[Paul Mc]

Thanks everyone! Seems sunburn and heat is the common thought here. Last year, we had highs between 100 and 110F (with some days higher) for about 5 or 6 weeks straight. It survived the heat but was indeed in a much shadier spot. Tomorrow morning, I will be moving it to see what happens.

Given the fact it is a cooler grower, do you all think moving it back to the basement under grow lights were it will remain more consistently cool is a good idea?