Please take a look at this orchid

[LeeAnn]

Hello
I am posting a picture of a plant that I recently got. I do not know what I am dealing with given the discoloration. I read about fungus and other diseases but so far I have been lucky and not had them. If you can diagnose from the picture, please tell me what is causing the discoloration. Thank you.

[tucker85]

My guess is that this is a benign fungus. Sheaths are very vulnerable because of the way the leaf forms a little cup. Water can sit in there and breed fungus. When the pseudobulb covering is dry and papery like yours is, I peel it back so it will not hold water in the area where the sheath meets the pseudobulb. Some sheaths can also be partly open and allow water to get inside the sheath and breed fungus there. Most of the time it will not extend to the pseudobulb but on rare occasions I have had that happen. I wouldn't do anything about it unless you see the pseudobulb start to change color. If you have a fungicide you can treat it with that.

[Halloamey]

I would definitely, cut the white sheath carefully. Give it a spray with a precautionary antifungal like Physan. It can be natural drying of the sheath. So unless it turns black and mushy, I will not be worried. But if it starts getting more and more black even when it is not receiving too bright light I would suspect fungus. If that happens you could cut the tip of this sheath off, so that it can dry from both inside and outside. Make sure the foliage of your plants stay dry.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

I would definitely, cut the white sheath carefully. Give it a spray with a precautionary antifungal like Physan. It can be natural drying of the sheath. So unless it turns black and mushy, I will not be worried. But if it starts getting more and more black even when it is not receiving too bright light I would suspect fungus. If that happens you could cut the tip of this sheath off, so that it can dry from both inside and outside. Make sure the foliage of your plants stay dry.

I agree. Good luck with it! (Welcome to OrchidTalk!!)

cheers,
BD