Tiny spots in Oncidium leaves

9 years ago

It's me again, lol!

One of my Oncidiums is getting tiny little spots on the leaves. Some are brown, some are very light and look like pinholes when the sun hits them (they aren't actually holes, but light goes right through). The plant was on a windowsill on my screened in porch for a few days, but I moved it to a table under the window after noticing the spots. It now sits about 2 feet from the window and get bright indirect light through a screen with a few hours of dappled sun. I use a wooden skewer to see when to water, maybe once a week It's in mostly coconut coir chips, which is how I bought it from a local grower.

Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

westoh Z6

9 years ago

If it is normal Onc spotting (I personally don't think it is) then more air movement should reduce/eliminate the spotting from continuing. I'd watch it closely and be prepared to move it to a brighter & breezier location if the spotting continues to spread.

How cold did it get on the porch? Looks like it could be from the leaves being wet (did you mist the leaves?) and too cold.

Good luck,

Bob

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Comments (11)

suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
9 years ago
Some Oncs are more prone to spotting than others. It's not an issue.
Alyssa (Zone 6) thanked suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
9 years ago
Some Oncs are more prone to spotting than others. It's not an issue.
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suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
9 years ago
Some Oncs are more prone to spotting than others. It's not an issue.
Ben(8b/9a north FL)
9 years ago
These are not the "typical oncidium" spots that suzabanana is thinking of. Nice picture with the light going through the leaf, there is something causing these translucent "cavities" in the leaf cells. Pls take a picture with a camera that you can expand and zoom way in to get a better look, I would suspect something is chewing on the leaves. If confirmed, then a systemic insecticide for sucking insects would be recommended.
Alyssa (Zone 6)
Original Author
9 years ago
I will try in the morning, but unfortunately all I have is my iphone. I'll see what I can do! Thank you
Alyssa (Zone 6)
Original Author
9 years ago
Update: I checked the leaves this morning, no sign of aphids, mites, mealies... no bugs at all. It's possible that the plant came to me like this, and the nursery treated for pests. So, probably not the issue here. I'm using tap water, could that be it?
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
9 years ago
Sorry for the triple post! It kept giving me an error and asking me to retry!

Ben - please refrain from telling me what I mean. It's entirely possible that I am wrong, but I stand by what I think and say. Please refrain from being so dismissive. It's offensive. Maybe Google "mansplaining".

Alyssa - Oncs sometimes get little black spots that dissolve (for lack of a better term) into pinholes. I have 1 Onc (out of about 8 or 10 different varieties) that does this and I have never found any evidence of pest or disease to explain it. I would not worry too much about it as long as the plant does not show any signs of decline.
Alyssa (Zone 6) thanked suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
Alyssa (Zone 6)
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you so much! I hope that's it, I have a few other Oncs and only one other has black spots but the plants seem healthy otherwise
Ben(8b/9a north FL)
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
@suzabanana

"t's entirely possible that I am wrong,"... that is what I find troublesome, giving advice without being 200 percent sure of whether that advice is correct... try googling "oncidium leaf spotting"
Alyssa (Zone 6)
Original Author
9 years ago
Coldest it got before I brought them in for the night was probably between 50 and 55 for a very short period--an hour tops. I misted my plants once when they were outside (we've got a cold spell now--they're inside this week). But I guess I won't be doing that anymore! Humidity around here usually stays between 70 and 80 anyway.