Question
Good Afternoon Wayne,

I just added a cymbidium orchid to my collection and nothing seems to be working!
I tried your q-tip and alcohol trick but the black spots did not come off.  Am I to assume this means my plant has a fungal infection?  What do you recommend for the treatment?  Is this infection easily spread to other orchids?
Let me know where to go next, Thank you,

Joellen

Answer
Joellen, leaf spot is very common on cymbidiums and it is unsightly.  I have sprayed with Kocide, a copper-based fungicide. I have found the fungicide helps to reduce leaf spotting on new growth. Once spotting is present, it cannot be removed, however.  Repeated spraying every couple of weeks is also needed. I have not found that it spreads to other orchids.  Some cymbidiums seem more prone to it than others as do some other thin-leaved orchids such as some Brassias.  Try to avoid getting the leaves wet-- except when spraying the foliage with the fungicide. Water droplets on the leaves can also magnify any sunlight striking the leaves causing some tiny leaf burn which can provide the route for the introductin of fungus.