Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of the leaves for pests.
- Check if the soil surface is staying wet for too long.
- Look for slime trails near the base of the plant.
Likely causes
Fungal leaf spot
PossibleHow to tell: You will see small brown or black circles that might have a yellow halo around them. These often appear when the plant stays wet for too long.
What to do: Remove the affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and ensure you water only the soil, not the leaves.
Slug damage
PossibleHow to tell: These look like irregular holes or chewed patches rather than perfect circles. You might see shiny slime trails left behind on the soil or leaves.
What to do: Check the plant at night with a flashlight to catch slugs in the act. Place a shallow dish of beer near the base or use iron phosphate pellets to deter them.
Find out what's wrong with your western marsh orchid
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Be concerned if the spots are spreading rapidly across the entire plant. A single small spot on an old leaf is usually nothing to worry about.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the foliage dry when watering and provide good spacing between plants to allow air to move freely.
Western marsh orchid: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your western marsh orchid and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I use a fungicide on my orchid?
- You can, but it is better to fix the environment first. Fungicides are a temporary fix if the plant is still sitting in stagnant, humid air.
- Are these spots contagious to my other plants?
- If the cause is fungal, yes, it can spread through water droplets. Keep the affected plant away from your others until it recovers.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Western marsh orchid
- Why are there holes in my Western marsh orchid leaves?
- Why is my Western marsh orchid not flowering?
- Why does my Western marsh orchid look sick at the base?
- Why are my Western marsh orchid leaves turning yellow?
- Why do my Western marsh orchid leaves have brown tips?
- Why is my Western marsh orchid drooping?
- Why is my Western marsh orchid looking leggy?
Back to the Western marsh orchid guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.