Is this orchid just infected with a virus?

[Zyzzyzus]

I know that the striping in many tulips is (intentionally) caused by a virus. Is this Phal also infected with a virus? And, if it is, could it infect my other plants? The striping on each flower is unique.

Thanks!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I recommend buying a viral test kit and seeing if it is infected or not.

It looks normal to me, but I'm not for sure on this.

Imo, testing will give you the better answer.

[Orchid Whisperer]

There are many Phals where a pattern such as this is due to the genetics of the plant. Example of something similar though not identical: Dtps. Little Gem Stripes 'Cats King' Hybrid Orchid Plant – Larry's Tropical Plants, Inc. However, if this plant has not always looked this way, I might suspect virus.

Is the hybrid name known (on a plant tag, etc.?) If yes, do an internet search for images of the same hybrid name. If the resulting pics DO NOT show streaked flowers, suspect that yours has a color break due to virus (test as K.o.o.g. said, or toss the plant). If internet photos show the same patterns as your plant, then it is likely genetic.

[My Green Pets]

I have never used this lab before, but they do virus testing for $5 each. You just need to send them a piece of a leaf.

Critter Creek Laboratory

[RJSquirrel]

IMO you got a virused phal n I bet its a noid from the grocery store. N virus is why I dont buy phals from the grocery stores. Mass grown Taiwanese virused phals. You know they infected the phals with the virus thinking in human terms they would develop resistance to them. It didnt work and they have been attempting to clean them up ever since.. I dont buy phals from the grocery store.

[euplusia]

It looks bad and irregular to me. The coloration of the left petal is not symmetric to the right one. Your plant is most probably virus infected. Although a virus is not highly contagious, I'd trash it, save the money for the virus test and instead I'd buy me another Phal.

[Vanda lover]

I think that they are bred for the striping, using plants with those qualities. It's beautiful!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by euplusia

It looks bad and irregular to me. The coloration of the left petal is not symmetric to the right one. Your plant is most probably virus infected. Although a virus is not highly contagious, I'd trash it, save the money for the virus test and instead I'd buy me another Phal.

That's exactly what came to my mind also.

---------- Post added at 01:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 PM ----------

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

IMO you got a virused phal n I bet its a noid from the grocery store. N virus is why I dont buy phals from the grocery stores. Mass grown Taiwanese virused phals. You know they infected the phals with the virus thinking in human terms they would develop resistance to them. It didnt work and they have been attempting to clean them up ever since.. I dont buy phals from the grocery store.

You know the thing is, whether you buy phals from grocery stores, flower shops or U.S. growers, they are all the same phals coming from Taiwan, which is the largest producer & distributor of phals in the world.
I know there are very very limited number of U.S. growers who make their own stuff, but in general, these popular phal hybrids are all from Taiwan no matter where you buy them.

Also, where did you hear that Taiwanese phal hybridizers injected virus to make virus-resistant phals?
I'm sure it is very possible thing to be tried at a lab (why not?) but selling the "leftover loser" phals are what they are selling all over the world is not true at all.
Accidents happen in all part of growing stages even starting with harvesting seeds, sowing, and deflasking, repotting...and bugs of course and human handling without proper cautious measures, which they did not in the past. Now they are doing some sort of control trying to minimize the number of virused plants produced although virused plants are always around at varying degree in the greenhouse.

[Leafmite]

There is a Justaddice Orchids operation here in Ohio (Who knew that Ohio was a great place to grow Phals? Then again, with so few sunny days, they probably don't need to worry about the greenhouse overheating).

Tulips are no longer infected with virus, at least not from reliable companies. Now, the striping is actually genetic. Like most plants, Tulips infected with the virus decline in health and eventually die.

Do the other flowers match the one pictured?
It looks very cool and if you like it, get it tested. It is difficult to tell if it is genetic, virus, or something forced upon the flower by some chemical/unknown cause.

The other thing you can do is just put it in a separate place, enjoy it, and if it starts to decline, or show any signs of virus on its leaves, pitch it. Just always take care of it last, never let anything that you use on the other orchids come into contact with it and wash your hands very vigorously before touching other plants or anything that will touch your other plants.

[The Mutant]

Well, it looks a lot like my Phal. Formosa Rose (points at picture). I also thought mine was virused, but was told that the "splash gene" in this particular hybrid, is very unstable and can lead to weird looking flowers like this.

I can't afford to test mine, so just to be on the safe side (just in case), I treat it with care and don't let it mix with the others. It seems healthy so far (I've had it for almost 1½ years) and loves to flower. As a matter of fact, it's working on its third spike since I got it home.