Virus? Disease? :(

8 years ago

I have 2 plants with problems.

#1 - LC. Fire Island 'Fiery'

Bloomed in February, but as soon as each flower opened, it got limp and dropped within a couple of days. The stem got brown very quickly. This has never happened before. I've had this plant for 4 years without issue until now.

After the weird blooming, the leaves began doing this:

Since this photo (taken 3/17), all leaves have gone yellow and dropped except one which is on it's way. No funky smell or softness in the pseudobulbs. Any thoughts?

#2 - Mokara Salaya

Purchase from a reputable greenhouse in October, these spots were tiny and I thought nothing of them. They have grown and are looking ominous. I'm worried. Help!

Featured Answer

jane__ny

8 years ago

Why not order a few test strips from Critter Creek? It’s not expensive and is a good teaching tool. There are other companies, but Critter is the one I know.

Very strange that it bloomed it’s head off then lost the flowers. Maybe it exhausted itself!! ;)

I’m guilty of holding on to a few virised orchids. They do decline but continue to bloom and grow, yet get pretty ugly over time. I have one now which is blooming but has hardly any leaves. The biggest danger are cutting tools and sucking insects. Can easily spread.

Jane

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Comments (10)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
8 years ago
Have you looked at the roots?

tj
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shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
8 years ago
If possible, quarantine them...
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore) thanked shavedmonkey (Harvey in South Fl.)Z10b
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laticauda
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
That second one looks like growth in a petri dish (to my eye, fungal pattern).

Have you called your local county extension? Maybe someone here with more experience than myself can diagnose it from the photos but the county extension should have testing available for you.
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore) thanked laticauda
jane__ny
8 years ago
Not happy by those photos. Was there anything unusual about the flowers? Color breaks or splotches? You've had it four years, did the flowers look normal?

If you want to keep the plant, I would get it tested for virus before doing anything else.

Jane
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore) thanked jane__ny
laticauda
8 years ago
I've found this: http://www.hark-orchideen.de/Bilder/Pflanzenschutz/Gross/colletrotrichum05.jpg
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore) thanked laticauda
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
Original Author
8 years ago
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI - The roots of the Mokara Salaya look great. Putting out plenty of new growth. To look at the roots of the Lc. Fire Island, I would need to break the pot. The roots I can see look normal, but clearly something is going on.

shavedmonkey - They are both in different rooms than the rest of my orchids now. The Lc. was moved right after it bloomed, the Mokara was moved yesterday.

jane__ny - The flowers on the LC. looked normal except they only lasted a day. No spots or anything. And more flowers than I've ever had on that plant before - a total of 7 buds! All bloomed but some didn't even fully open before dropping. The Mokara has yet to bloom for me.

laticauda - I have not called the county but can do so. Today I'm headed to the same reputable greenhouse where I purchased the Mokara in October. I will show them the photos to see if they can diagnose. The head of their orchid house is also a part of the MOS (Massachusetts Orchid Society). I have not joined as meetings are at the worst possible time over an hour from my home, but it's worth talking with them.

Has anyone seen rings like I have on the Mokara? I'm pretty sure the Lc. is a goner :(
westoh Z6
8 years ago
I think the Mokara looks as if it may have a ringspot virus, especially with the additional specks/flecks. It should be interesting to hear what the original seller has to say.

Personally, I'd trash them both or separate (as you've already done) and buy some test strips to make a definite determination. It's just too risky to leave a virused orchid in the collection IMO.

Good luck,

Bob
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore) thanked westoh Z6
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore)
Original Author
8 years ago
Ugh! Staff at the greenhouse today had no idea and the woman I was looking for was not there today. So I'm back to being confused :(

Both plants are separated from the rest and each other.

westoh - Thank you for giving me a name. It looks like ringspot and it's not really treatable but also not airborne, so as long as it doesn't touch other plants, we should be ok. It will still live in another room for safety.
laticauda
8 years ago
Also dont share water and disinfect cutting utensils. (I'm pretty sure you know that but just in case you aren't aware.)
suzabanana (6b Boston/N. Shore) thanked laticauda