Have no idea!

[thepurpleorange]

Thanks orchidsamore!

I am definitely sure the black spots are sunburn. It is dry, and has remained the same size ever since I moved it to a shadier location many months ago.

I'm a newbie to orchid care, though I absolutely love it, so I appreciate your input. Your post solidifies my decision to stay away from fungicides at the moment...

Originally Posted by help

i would leave the flower on. that is the reason for growing these plants in the beginning isnt it?

I actually only just saw your post! Yes I decided to leave it on. It's beautiful. And I just couldn't bring myself to do it

[Yukonphal]

Originally Posted by orchidsamore

I do not see any fungal issues in the photos.

Burn and fungus look the same. If it is soft wet and growing it is fungus. If it is just ugly and dry ignore it. Fungus will die when temperatures get under 50 degrees and can also be ignored, although spores can live and reappear next season.

There is no product made that kills fungus. All the fungicides are meant to prevent the spread. If either of your black spots were growing fungus then a pair of scissors is the best cure by cutting the leaf off.

In a large commercial operation spraying to prevent the spread can be justified. But at the home level, the products sold to hobbyist are not effective and good products cost a fortune and are dangerous (Heritage $600 a pound). In a commercial setting fungused plants are destroyed immediately not tried to be rehabilitated.

I heard that cinnamon has fungicidal properties...has anyone tried it as a chemical alternative to fungicides?

[cday2inflorida]

If you google: "Cinnamon: kiss of death, or life?" There is a thread on another orchid site that is really interesting on cinnamon use.

In my estimation, cinnamon is more a desiccant then anything else.

[Call_Me_Bob]

interesting!

[Orchidjim]

Originally Posted by glengary54

thepurpleorange - you are on the right track, but a few words of advice. The large black areas are indeed the product of sunburn but you also have a fungus issue, you need to start a regular program of spraying fungicide, especially during the rainy season. Also, in the last picture there is a plant to the left of the plant that we are talkng about that has black rot, you need to throw that plant away, if not at least move it away from the rest of your plant. Keep us posted on your progress.

Agreed. The Catt in the back of the plant has black rot of some sort. It isn't noticed by the untrained eye. The use of a good all-purpose fungicide when applied correctly will take care of the problem. Apply according to the label and it will help. I lived in the US Virgin Islands and grew orchids, and like Trinidad, ( where thepurpleorange is from?) when the rainy season came, it was great for growing everything including fungus and bacterias! ( Eh..missun, me Cruzan!)

It is also a myth that fungus "die" in temps below 50F. By the way, when's the last time the temp got below 50 on your island? We NEVER had temps that cold in STX--ever. You'll be waitin' a long time.