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May 26, 2022 10:10 AM CST
Thread OP
Kernersville, NC
Just bought a mini orchid today at the grocery store. I didn't notice until I got home the black spot on one of the leaves along with a raised white spot close by. Any ideas what this is and how to treat it?
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May 27, 2022 4:25 AM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
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Your mini orchid looks to be a Phalaenopsis orchid. There is not much to go on in your image except to answer your two parted question. The raised white spot is not really much of a concern unless there are dozens of them all over the plant. But a single raised white spot could just be a mechanical blemish coming from rough treatment in the store. Does it scrape off easily with a finger nail? If it does then remove it. If it is part of the leaf surface tissue then it is probably mechanical damage.
They dark blotch is a bit more concerning. It is no problem really right now unless it expands in size. It is fungal damage, a sunken area of dead tissue. It will not go green again. But as long as it does not expand, it is okay to just leave it alone. If it expands you can remove that part of the leaf with a sharp knife. You can treat the cut edge with cinnamon. If it were to suddenly expand and take over the entire plant, the plant would die.

Welcome to the site and the Orchid Forums! We have several "threads" here dealing with Phalaenopsis and how to grow them properly. One such thread is 'Supermarket Orchids- Phalaenopsis'. That would be full of helpful information on growing them and dealing with issues.
In brief, bright location, NO SUN, 65-80 degrees, water about every 3-5 days depending upon size of pot, temperature and type of media. Feed once every 4 months.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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May 28, 2022 10:42 AM CST
Name: Katy
Clovis, New Mexico, USA (Zone 7a)
Bookworm
Hi, the black spot looks like a scar. Plants possess an enzyme that creates "scabs" in an effort to protect an injured place. This is what it looks like. The white spot. Can it be scraped off? The only thing I can think of is a potential mealybug. I am not saying that is what it is, but you can rule it out by treating the area with neem oil, or some isopropyl alcohol. Just use a Q-tip, and pat the top of it and see if that helps.

Orchids will get nicks and bungs over time. They can live many years but the individual leaves or parts of the orchid (roots "stems" called Pseudobulbs in many kinds of orchid) have a natural growth/die-off cycle , and so they will have their fair share of injury.
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May 28, 2022 7:41 PM CST
Name: Big Bill
Livonia Michigan (Zone 6a)
If you need to relax, grow plants!!
Bee Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Orchids Region: Michigan Hostas Growing under artificial light
Echinacea Critters Allowed Cat Lover Butterflies Birds Region: United States of America
The black spot is not a scar. It is Bacterial Brown Spot- Pseudomonas.

Go to the St. Augustine Orchid Society web site. They have a fabulous section there on orchid pests and diseases.
Orchid lecturer, teacher and judge. Retired Wildlife Biologist. Supervisor of a nature preserve up until I retired.
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