Sick ? Laelia - Orchid Board

Pabsorchid14 · #1 03-26-2021, 01:12 AM

Hello guys, i just noticed a spot on the leaves of my laelia that has increased. I dont know if ifs the natural process of the leaf or something more serious i should take care of

SouthPark · #2 03-26-2021, 03:41 AM

Hard to say that it is due to at the moment. But possibilities could be fungal ------ or mag or cal deficiency.

What temperature range is the orchid grown in? And is there some air-movement in the growing area?

I can also see some white patches ..... little white marks. So check the leaves to see if there's anything attacking the leaves ----- insects or scale etc. Or even fungus.

Orchidtinkerer · #3 03-26-2021, 07:24 AM

I'll second that and add it doesn't look good but hard to say what the culprit is.
The bulbs do look shrivelled and dehydrated also.

I'd water more, give more light and up the temps if it were mine.

rbarata · #4 03-26-2021, 07:53 AM

Laelia? Which one?

Pabsorchid14 · #5 03-26-2021, 09:43 AM

I think its a laelia speciosa. The dark spots on the leaf are not soggy and dont smell, the leaf its quite strong. The plant has been mounted for a few months its been growing and out of the sun but plenty of light and venitlation. Would you recommend to cuff off the leaf or even bulb if it has spread too much, or just wait out? And perhaps move my orchid to a warmer and where it gets direct sunlight? Ill try adding a few more photos up close

estación seca · #6 03-26-2021, 11:17 AM

Any chance that is sun or heat damage?

Roberta · #7 03-26-2021, 11:33 AM

If the bad spots are firm and hard, I'd agree with ES that sunburn might be the issue. When the culprit is fungal or bacterial the spots are usually soft. I think that you can cut off the really bad leaves, the small spots just watch. And if you can, observe it through the course of the day... the sun is shifting with the season (especially if you are in the northern part of Mexico) so a location that was perfect a few months ago could be getting a transitory blast of sun now. It doesn't take long, only a few minutes if there is a sudden "hit" from the sun.

Pabsorchid14 · #8 03-26-2021, 03:12 PM

Thanks a lot, i have trimmed the damaged leave. I inspected it closely and indeed it is dry, no smell and firm. Sunburn is probably the culprit. I was just tripping because a week ago a did something im not supposed to and dunk this orchid in the same water as my vandas

Roberta · #9 03-26-2021, 03:19 PM

For me, March is the time of year that I am most likely to toast leaves... orchids that tolerate high light (like Laelias) still want the light to increase gradually - and at this time of year, when the sun angle gets higher, it may suddenly hit the plants, that were shaded by a building or tree. So it is important to watch what the sun may be doing in your growing area, it can surprise you.

rbarata · #10 03-26-2021, 03:21 PM

Laelia speciosa comes from the same areas as Laelia anceps but from higher altitudes. This means strong light and low temps in winter and warm and "wet" in summer. Light levels required are the same as anceps and at this time of the year my anceps gets a little burned.

If you don't live in a place with an altitude between 1900–2500 m, probably your temps are too high to prevent sunburn. So, move it to a place with high indirect light (south shaded window).