Emergency!

Brown spot in my spiking onc!!!

This was my happy plant a few days ago, I just posted that same pic... now look.

Why would that happen over night? I loped off the bad leaves and gave it a bath in SA20. The last wetting it got was Sunday morning, I got the water from a rain collection barrel I have at the side of the house. Could it be that? I never wet the leaves. I saw the brownish speckles last Weds so I used some actara on it because I thought I was spidermites, my first onc (that's in my "I killed it..." post) looked like that.

It looks like it might be sunburn. Did you move the orchid into brighter light? The direction of the sun is changing as we move into spring so it may be getting more light even if you didn't move it.

I guess it could be getting too much sun. My brush with brown rot lead to a casualty but that was a new plant and no spikes or flowers, where as this onc. was a lucky find with the 2 small spikes on it already at a monthly orchid sale. The spike grew almost 3 ft since then, and I've gotten a bit attached to it. I would hate for it to croak this close to putting out its blooms. i have moved it to the southern end of the house and I'm hoping you are right. (crossing everything)

if this particular ailment was at the top end leaftip i would have said fertizer burn, too much to strong to often. As yours indicates the sun was most likely the culprit. Is it possible the leaf got splashed or the last of morning dew before evaporation. Even an insect (not necsarily a problem one) dont panic but may have been attracted to a sweet secretion from leaf or if physical damaged from bird/ lizard. Would increase scorching potential if epidermal/ membranne tissue damaged and secretion/ fluid acted as a magnifying glass.

Dont see any spidermite damage though past or present.

Many people now will experience sunburn on plants as theyve been caught out by change. Doesnt need that much time and even quicker without a breeze around

Dont forget us always interfereing and meddling, a simple act of someone using finger to rub leaf, move fallen matter and even curiousity. Our skin highly likely to transfer grease or oils natural or from a cooking/diy task.

If I were you I just remove or cut nicely in order to avoid secondary infection dont worry small matter only.

Thank you all for your hand holding, I truly was in a panic. I did remove the damaged areas and relocated it to a slightly more shaded area. Hopefully I curbed what ever it was before it set in.

Onc up date! Now if I can just id it.

Oncidium sphacelatum at a guess but many many variables hybrids. I am a sucker for these, have quite a soft spot for these quaint multi yelo blooms on an inflorescence' !dancing ladies, probably purchase 1 or 2 each year due to the response of cheerful stunning yellow colour. but as i purchase them as noids who knows what each one is. Reason for liking the one parent of your new named onc Nowah?? with zelenkoa as a parent.