Cattleya - sunburn?

[marcoeverard]

I just received this Catt Blc Alma Kee Tipmalee from a nursery and the lead leaf has this brown spot and the area around seems to be turning more yellow. Is this sunburn or something worse?

[james mickelso]

Bacterial brown/black spot. Pour hydrogen peroxide on the affected part or a bacteriacide like Physan. I would send this back to where you purchased it with a stern letter telling them to never send anyone a plant that is infected. Pseudomonas is a very contagious infection that spreads through water splashing onto the leaves and enters through a small wound or crack in the leaf tissues. Another approach is to cut the leaf off since the infection is at the base of this leaf, and dab cinnamon on the cut. You won't lose much except the photosynthesizing leaf which is still storing starch/sugar in the pbulb which will feed any succeeding pbulbs. But you will still get new growth buds off the base of this pbulb. The vendor should be horsewhipped for sending you this infected orchid. Just my opinion.

[Leafmite]

Yes, I agree with James. Keep this away from other orchids and inform the vendor.

[marcoeverard]

Thank you - obviously I will never buy from that vendor again. The pseudo bulb isn't really fully formed on this leaf - if I cut it off will it still send out a new growth from the base?

[Island Girl]

Yes, it should be able to send off another bulb, as long as you can stop this infection. I agree with all of the above as well. Good Luck! & Separate from your others!! (or return it)

...Alot of the time, when the rhizome (or other parts, like the newest lead, I think as well) get damaged, the plant knows to start sending out new growths, b/c part of the plant got damaged, and it needs to recover. (I could be wrong about that, so experts please correct me if I'm wrong! But, at the very least, it would send one out next year...)

[euplusia]

I agree with all above. It looks contagious, no sunburn. Luckily there is a natural barrier between leaf and pseudobulb, so the infection normally doesn't spread backward. I would take a razorblade and cut off the leaf 2 mm above the pbulb.

[marcoeverard]

Here is the reply from the French vendor :
Hi don t worry it s not bacterial , all plants are visiting by autority and keep fongicive traitment
i see it s not nice i give you money back
thank for your great communication

So I have received a refund but will cut off and dust the affected area as you suggest to be safe.