Does my orchid have a virus?

[Wade Coleman]

Hi all, I’ve have this phaleanopsis for about a year now and it has since bloomed and grown a new leaf and roots. However, there’s something odd about the new leaf it’s growing. It has large dark patches on the upper and lower parts of the leaf along with small dark brown bumps on the underside, near the base of the leaf. It doesn’t seem to be pest related though. It’s my only Phaleanopsis that hasn’t produced a spike this season, so I’m not sure what’s wrong with it. The leaf is still sturdy and isn’t soft or mushy.. I’ve never had an orchid with a virus before, and comparing it to images on the internet, I can’t find anything that looks quite like what I have.

[signin1234]

Impossible to know from visual inspection only, and even more impossible to tell just from a few photos. While it's unlikely, if you suspect virus, then either toss the plant or have it tested.

[WaterWitchin]

Bottom of leaf looks more like insect bites. Top of leaf looks more like edema to me. How about an overall picture of the plant? How are the roots? When was the last time you freshened the bark mix it's in?

[Wade Coleman]

This is the plant as a whole. He’s got a great root system and his other leaves seem to be in good shape. I repoted him less than a year ago, so his bark is still fresh.

[aliceinwl]

It looks a bit like the Cattleya just posted in Possible disease on cattleyas I wonder if yours could be due to a nutritional deficiency as well? What’s your watering and fertilizing regime?

[Wade Coleman]

Oh that’s Interesting. They do look pretty similar only mine doesn’t have any yellowing. I water with tap water about once a week or whenever the bark is dry and I fertilize with Better Gro Orchid Plus once a month (sometimes more with diluted doses). None of my other orchids are showing any similar symptoms though. I’ve moved around quite a bit in the last year and I remember seeing the odd symptoms about 6 or 7 months ago when I was living in Hawaii. Since then I’ve moved to Florida and am now back in Oregon. It’s been a bit stressful on the plants, but they are all recovering quite quickly, except this guy isn’t showing any signs of new growth. He’s just kind of there, not growing but not dying.

[rbarata]

Probably some issue related with water + low temps.