Question
Hello Wayne!

I just got an orchid for my birthday (which was about a week ago) and a few of the flowers that have blossomed have a couple of black spots on them resembling mold.  I don't have much experience with orchids but my parents always grew them and I have never seen this before.  Is there something wrong or something I can do?

Thanks,

Anna

Answer
Belated happy birthday.  Chances are pretty good that the grower that you got the plant from got water on the buds.  He/she probably watered late in the day which means droplets of water were on the buds at a time when they were slow to dry and invited mold to develop at those locations.  If it is "sooty mold" you may be able to gently rub some of it off.  Try a Q-tip soaked in Listerine.  If, however, the mold has penetrated the tissues of the flower, you may need to remove those flowers so affected.  I have seen much of this even in commercial greenhouses where there is an overhead watering system.  Hopefully some buds yet to open were spared and will not have black spots.