I have a compot of P. Prime Child (rothschildianum x primulinum) from a flask that I de-flasked about five months ago. Plants were growing well until I noticed some yellow spots on leaves a few weeks ago. The spotting appeared on lower leaves first, and the spots eventually coalesce and turn the whole leaf yellow. I thought it might be some kind of nutrient deficiency at the time, since the lower leaves were affected, and I had read that calcium or magnesium deficiencies can cause yellowing and dying off of lower leaves.

Now, though, I'm not so sure. The yellow spotting seems to be affecting some new leaves as well, and seems to be spreading more quickly.

Another plant from this flask was potted separately after de-flasking, and appears to be OK for the moment.

I have checked for insects, and found one grown mealy bug, but after careful inspection, I saw no trace of other mealy bugs or cottony mealy bug residue. I've heard that chlorosis of the leaves like this can be caused by a fungus, Phyllosticta.

Does anyone know if this is some kind of bacterial or fungal infection? Or could the plants just be very stressed for some reason? Can these plants be saved? Thanks for any advice...

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I don't know what is causing it but it does look very much like mealybug damage. Good luck!

Even if you're not totally sure of what to do, do something quickly. Little seedlings can be devastated very quickly. Try a mild insect killer like pyrethrins in case you're missing a pest. Spray with Phyton 27 at the lowest effective rate to combat fungus or bacterial infections. Don't do both at the same time, of course, but do both. Schultz also has a product called Fungicide 3 that's actually clarified neem oil. I don't know about its effectiveness on fungus, but the neem oil does a good job on mealies and doesn't seem to hurt the seedlings. With neem or pyrethrins, always treat three times, seven to ten days apart.

Let us know how things go.

I am not sure if is mealybug or fungo . But I belive is better you take off this substrate , soaking in phyton 27 or physan, let to dry and plant in another sphagnum after 1 day spray some insect killer. I belive that plant wil be better !!!!

I have another ideia looking better the picture, it is possible to be a spidermites look the plant with a glass !! Maybe you can see the red spots ou somethings like that !!! The is a lot kinds of spidermites !!! If you see some things, well spray sulfur !!! it is great for kill spidermites.

I think it looks like scale marks/ scars. Not that you wouldn't see them. I have had a little experience with scale in the past few weeks, resilient little suckers. I know it is not scale, I would definitely repot them, after a good spraying. Good luck let us know! Mite damage is a possibility, where is that sphag from? Maybe it had some eggs in it.

Hi all,

The sphag is not the problem because it's brand new. I noticed the yellow spots when the plants were in their original seedling mix, and I moved them over to the sphagnum moss after seeing the damage.

I'd vote for fungal damage. Seems to me you would notice insects - or even mites.

I would expect the disinfectant treatments to stop the progression of the problem.

By the way, fresh sphagnum can be loaded with fungi, including one that causes problems for people - sporotrichosis. With natural products, do not consider "fresh" to equate with "clean." I'm not saying that the moss is the source of the problem if it is fungal, chances are that would be airborne.

I had some nasty yellowing going on about 6-8 weeks ago, not exactly like yours, mine was more the shape of a water drop running down the leaf. Having said that, I nuked my plants with phyton 27 and more and now, after they spent a good 5 weeks at the Ki hotel (I was out of town) they're looking a LOT better. Obviously you have to determine for yourself how drastic of a step to take, but I nuked mine and they're a lot better (at least most of them are). Knock on wood.