Hi Orchid Friends! I had nothing but set back with my Oncidium Sharry Baby. I have two new growths both with odd spotting like this. Is it a little bacterial infection? In the past when any orchid in my care had issues with water getting into a new growth, it would blacken and sort of melt away very quickly. That’s not what’s happening here though. I don’t have a lot of experience with viruses… could that be what’s going on here? 🤔
It is common for oncidiums to get leaf spotting, but this doesn't look like their usual harmless spot issues. Isolate the plant to protect any others from this spreading, at least until you can ID the problem. If it's bacterial, spots will likely be mushy and can spread quickly. If it's fungal, it'll probably develop yellow tones and spread when conditions are wet. For both of those, increasing air flow, keeping the leaves more dry, and treating with a broad antifungal/antibacterial will help. If it's a virus (to me it looks like one, but I hope it isn't), then get it tested (you can send the affected leaf to a lab or get a home test kit). If it actually does have a virus, there's no known cure. Orchidwise.com has a great article on virus management that also covers the basics on getting it tested. Some types of spots can be caused by pests, so check for any signs of insects.
1 LikeThanks- you basically confirmed my initial thoughts. It’s been consistently set back since I brought it home. I don’t have issues like rotting new growths or spots like these with any other orchid in my collection- (and it’s been a room with about 20 others for years!) Now I just have to decide if I should keep on trying with it. How long do you generally keep trying with orchids that you know are just not performing? I’m stubborn, and orchids have taught me a lot of patience. I can usually bring them back when they are dehydrated or have minor infections. But this one is really stumping me! I could blame the set back on dehydration and rotten new growths on sloppy watering practices- but this new development…? Ugh.
1 LikeAnd no sign of pests, thank goodness.
1 LikeThe good news is that if it's been in the collection near other plants for that long, it's probably not contagious. For a plant that's underperforming, you can stick with it as long or as little as you want. If you want to hold onto it, orchids with viruses can produce healthy clones, so your goal would be to encourage keikis, do root divisions, or try diy tissue culture if you're feeling ambitious.
1 Like