Should i say goodbye to this Catt?

[Pat'sCatt's]

Hi everybody,

Just read the post from mrhungx about a virussed Catt, so it always makes you doubt some of your own plants. This picture is my Cattleya loddigesii, and as you can see it has also a lot of black dots on mostly the back of the leave. Can anyone tell me if this is most likely a virus, or could it also be fungal?

Or in a shorter version: treasure or trash?

[ALToronto]

This pattern is too random to be a virus, although it's possible. Looks too good otherwise - I'd spend the $5 to find out for sure.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I can't tell from a photo. Only way to know if it is virus or not is to test (test kit, or send samples to a lab like Critter creek).

FWIW, nothing in the photo makes me suddenly think "virus". Maybe it is, maybe not.

You might be able to test the fungus idea. Get a good systemic fungicide that treats the fungus that you think you have (the St. Augustine Orchid Society has good information on diseases, and which treatment works on which problem). Cleary's is a fungicide that treats many fungi and is systemic. Try it at the recommended strength and frequency of use. If new growths are spot free, then it was likely a fungus. BTW, the old spots won't clear up with a fungicide, but with treatment hopefully it will not spread.

[Leafmite]

It might just be normal for the Cattleya. I have aclandiae and it is known for having spotty leaves.

[LovePhals]

I agree, to me that looks fungal. I would keep it and spray and see if it continues.

[Kailyn]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

This pattern is too random to be a virus, although it's possible. Looks too good otherwise - I'd spend the $5 to find out for sure.

sorry for the hijack here but where do you find these kits in canada? I have never seen one and have a suspicious phal...

[Pat'sCatt's]

Originally Posted by Kailyn

sorry for the hijack here but where do you find these kits in canada? I have never seen one and have a suspicious phal...

I was just thinking the same! A very good question Kailyn!
May i add the Netherlands (Europe) to this question? Because i also would really like a testing kit!

---------- Post added at 01:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------

Thnks for all the replies so far! I'll keep as a treasure for now and i'm going to search for a good fungicide and treat the Catt with it! 👍

And hopefully these testing kits are also aviable in Europe/Netherlands! And of course Canada for Kailyn!

[tucker85]

The only virus testing company I know of is Adgia. The test that you want is the immuno strip ISK 13301 for Cymbidium Mosaic Virus and Odontoglossum Virus. You can get 5 tests for $42. Personally I just wait to see evidence of virus, like color break. Here's a link to the Adgia test. https://orders.agdia.com/InventoryD....K+13301&loc=IN

[Miss Flower]

Yeah it works. I got it. It's in France for Europe and for Canada it's in the States I think. In any case go to their website and poke around.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by Pat'sCatt's

I was just thinking the same! A very good question Kailyn!
May i add the Netherlands (Europe) to this question? Because i also would really like a testing kit!

---------- Post added at 01:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------

Thnks for all the replies so far! I'll keep as a treasure for now and i'm going to search for a good fungicide and treat the Catt with it! 👍

And hopefully these testing kits are also aviable in Europe/Netherlands! And of course Canada for Kailyn!

Pat & Kailyn:

You might try contacting Agdia and find out if they ship to your countries: https://orders.agdia.com/inventory.a...16607}&cpage=3

A Google search might locate other companies offering test kits for orchids (Agdia has kits that test many plant varieties and viruses that are not just orchids).