Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Look closely at the undersides of the leaves for tiny insects.
- Ensure the plant has good airflow in its current location.
- Check if water is splashing onto the leaves during your watering routine.
Likely causes
Fungal leaf spot
Most likelyHow to tell: Small, dark, or sunken spots appear on the leaves, often with a yellow halo around them.
What to do: Increase air circulation around the plant with a small fan. Remove the affected leaves with sterile scissors and avoid getting water on the foliage when watering.
Aphids
PossibleHow to tell: Tiny green or black insects cluster on new growth and flower buds, leaving behind sticky residue that can cause spots.
What to do: Wipe the leaves gently with a damp cloth or use a mild insecticidal soap. Repeat the process every 5 days until the pests are gone.
Find out what's wrong with your monkey face 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
If the spots are spreading rapidly or turning into mushy patches, the plant needs urgent care. Small, dry, and stationary spots are usually just cosmetic scars.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the leaves dry and ensure the plant has plenty of fresh air moving around it.
Keep your monkey face orchid healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Can I use a fungicide on my orchid?
- Yes, but only as a last resort. Improving airflow and keeping leaves dry is much more effective.
- Are these spots contagious to my other plants?
- If the spots are fungal, they can spread through water droplets. Isolate the plant until you are sure the issue is resolved.
More problems with Monkey face orchid
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Back to the Monkey face orchid guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.