Aerangis ellisii - brown spots on leaves
 

Hi all,
I've just received an Aerangis ellisii in the post from a commercial grower (new species for me) and it has arrived with a variety of dark spots on three out of five leaves - some nearly black, some indented into the leave and some just dark brown discolouration but not indented into the leaf (yet!).

I've had a look at the sticky post re diseases and wondered if it was bacterial brown spot or not? Does anyone have any opinions on this and do you think I can stop the spread?

I've hopefully attached some pictures!

Many thanks

Michelle

It's hard to say. Aerangis tend to be very high humidity orchids that get a lot of leaf spotting when conditions are not correct. I suspect stress on the plant makes it more susceptible to attack by pathogens.

I haven't grown this species, but I would focus on finding out what kind of temperatures and humidity it likes, and giving it those. Aerangis are quicker to decline with low humidity than most other orchids.

Thanks, I'll just try and keep it happy and see what happens.

Hi Michelle,
I personally would not worry about those spots if it were mine, they are on a lower leaf and odds are the plant will discard that leaf in a month or two.

I don't think Elisii is going to be easy though, I don't grow this one myself but it seems to require quite a warm environment with high daily temperature drops at nights and a high humidity.
If you don't provide these conditions the plant over time will become stressed, weak and more susceptible to bacteria, fungus and pests. From the spots you should just take that it has been stressed, needs some good care, keep the leaves dry and the spots should not spread. You can always cut the leaf off with sterilized scissors if you are worried about them. I'd be far more worried about keeping the roots happy which are generally in a very fragile state when new. If it is anything like my Aerangis mystacidii it will want a high humidty around its roots but it drinks very little in a year. Avoid too wet conditions.

Thanks, thats useful to know re root humidity (but not over watering). The plan is to mount it in a vivarium I'm setting up to replicate madagascan conditions, so fingers crossed it will be OK.