Virus on Catt. percivalian coerulea?

[gdupont]

Hi all.

I recently purchased this Cattleya percivaliana coerulea. It looked like it was growing fine. Some yellowing and browning on the leaves, but I thought it wasn't a problem.

After being away for the weekend, I came back to find a weird discoloration on the newest leaf. It's vaguely ring-shaped and lighter in color than the surrounding tissue.



It's not visible from the back of the leaf, image below, along with images of yellowing and browning on other leaves.

Can someone ID these issues? If it is a virus, I'd like to reach out to the seller. Thank you.

[estación seca]

My first thought is scale damage. Inspect closely in all the crevices.

[will1986]

I think I agree with estación seca. It doesn't look like virus to me.

[Roberta]

It doesn't look like virus to me either. The photo that gives me concern is the 3rd one, with what looks like some sort of rot down to the base of that leaf. Look carefully - if that dark coloration extends into the pseudobulb, the thing that would worry me would be rot that extends to the rhizome. In Catts, that can be deadly. If it does extend into the pseudobulb, some surgery might be required. Examine carefully before you cut anything, of course. You can see what is actually going on, photo likely doesn't tell the whole story.

[gdupont]

Thank you so much, everyone. I'm relieved it's not a virus for the sake of my other plants. But, this is my most expensive orchid! So, I'm worried about the possible bacterial rot. I assume the dark spots were just mechanical damage. More photos below.

Can you let me know what you think?







---------- Post added at 09:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

Also, this was the plant on April 13, picture from the seller, from before I purchased it. The black spot on the pseudobulb was there when I got it.

Thank you.

[estación seca]

Catts may develop black spots on pseudobulbs after damage from many causes. Those don't worry me so much. Scale loves hiding deep in newly opening Catt leaves. Scale damage can show as black patches near the inner fold of new shoots.

C. percivaliana is normally very easy to grow with proper temperatures, light and watering. I see yours is making healthy new growths. Any chance it was dry for a long time? Catt shoots often turn black if water is insufficient. With as little potting medium as that one has, I'd need to water every day with my growing conditions.

[SADE2020]

I was wandering about the medium setup ? Is it just like that or SH?

[gdupont]

Yeah, the medium is rather odd. This is how the seller had been growing it (in hot & humid Florida), but I'm growing it indoors in New Jersey.

I asked the seller about repotting it and they said they would prefer to wait until there's a new growth that starts putting out roots. I understand that reasoning, but this medium does seem tricky. I water it almost every day or every other day.

Now that I'm writing this I think double potting it is probably a good idea, until that new growth puts out roots in a month or so.

What do you think?

[estación seca]

I would set that pot in a bigger pot and backfill with the same medium, which appears to be LECA. You could also use large bark. Those roots aren't accustomed to being buried in fine to medium bark.

[gdupont]

Here's an update on this plant. I double-potted as recommended, it sat in there for a few weeks with no movement, and then started to grow a bit, and after two weeks I have a few brand new roots and a new shoot coming. Image attached.

Question: Should I repot this now in large bark, or should I wait for the shoot to grow out, or leave it as-is?

Thanks!