I've never seen the like. How is the offshoot, is it doing the same? Have you fertilized this plant ? What is that sand and perlite? Fertilizer is my first thought. You might want to rethink that soil.

- The offshoot looks just fine as does the whole plant.

- I never put fertilizer on it because it's been growing so quick.

- The sand is just sprinkled on top for decoration. The soil is cactus mix and mostly perlite, it drains very well and I only water it once it's totally dry top to bottom.

Mystery? Just started all of sudden. I may try to cut it out but I don't want to do any damage.

A few more offshoots and it will look great.

Thanks!

I wouldn't cut it. I'm not an expert...just hate cutting plants.

I'd take the wait and see approach for the moment.

any chance something is munching on the new growth?

I will let it grow for now and see what happens. No munching going on, it's always indoors. It sits in a window so it get a full dose of in-direct light. No direct sunlight.

Thanks

Frank,

I think I got bad news. I think this is called 'Rust'. It is a virus. Notice the leaves don't grow just mutate. Also what is that white specks. Could be a insect invasion after the fact. If I am right. The whole plant is infected even if it shows no signs right now. Keep it away from all and any plants. It could cross over to other types of plants. We need some serious help here. Hope some one with knowledge chimes in here. What I was told about the 'Rust' was to discard the whole plant, soil, pot everything and scrub down the place it was in.

Stush

I will take it out ASAP just in case.

I saw some picts online and it does look like what you describe. It may have had it all along because it was in rough shape when I got it. Threw most of it out.

Alway look at the positive, now I have room for a new plant.

Thanks Stush.

Frank,

All parts of the plant would be infected. The virus goes thru the whole root system to every leaf. Very contagious not only to Sans. I was hoping I was wrong. Should contact the people you got this from. Could save a lot of plants early on. There was a Hosta virus that came out and caused a lot of damage and expense. 'Virus X'. Hope we seen the last of it.

Stush

I got rid of it and the roots were bad. This one was isolated from most of my other plants so hopefully we are OK. I got it out of a bargain bin at HD last year so not much I can do.

Sorry about your plant, hope that is the end of the "rust" problem. Bargain racks can be tricky business, sometimes I'm sure the problem is simply lack of/ or too much water only to find that the plant has some thing. Lost a Silver Streak Peace Lily that way and I'm glad nothing else caught what ever it was. So getting rid of that sick plant was a good call, especially since the roots were sick! Good diagnosis Stush!

I can only hope I was right about this. Just maybe it was nothing so bad. Some of these virus started in Japan/China/Indonesia area trying to induce variegation and or different leaf structure. Done in secret. Ever wonder how so many special variegated new Sans coming here. Use of radiation, use of chemicals and even birth control pills so as was suggested a few years ago in a post 'What causes variegation'. Weed killer on some hardy kinds. List goes on.

Stush