Yellow Cymbidium followed me home this morning

[camille1585]

The Dutch are about 15 YEARS ahead of the world when it comes to greenhouse technology. It's insane. They have now mastered growing plants on multiple levels within a GH, the most modern greenhouses are about 30 feet tall! All that to save space. Land is scarce and very very expensive. But the specialist growers (the places we shop from) are pretty much like you describe, spots don't bother them much.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by greenbean

Beautiful yellow! I like the red on the lip, too.

It couldn't hurt to have your plants tested, though personally I don't worry about it too much at least at this point in my collection.

As to the oncidiums and their intergeneric hybrids, many of these get spots on their leaves for several reasons. Some, like Onc. Sharry Baby, are especially prone to spotting because one of the species in its background has spotted leaves. Other Oncidium intergenerics develop spots that are theorized to develop due to water on the leaves. Most of these spots are not signs of disease but a virtually unavoidable characteristic of the plant itself. But, like I said, it doesn't hurt to get them tested anyways.

Thanks, Evan!

I read that Sharry Baby tends to get spots when exposed to high light. I also heard about the water spots, but I think they are those tiny little black specks that are slightly sunken.

The kind of spots my oncidium hyrids have starts out as light green area, which turn brown over time. They also have light halo around the edge.

Sun spots and water spots are much smaller in size and do not display halo around the edge.

The thing is I have three very fragrant ones and those are the ones with brown spots. I already trimmed away quite a few leaf tips. I've thrown trwo or three away.
What a headache...

---------- Post added at 07:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:32 PM ----------

Originally Posted by camille1585

The Dutch are about 15 YEARS ahead of the world when it comes to greenhouse technology. It's insane. They have now mastered growing plants on multiple levels within a GH, the most modern greenhouses are about 30 feet tall! All that to save space. Land is scarce and very very expensive. But the specialist growers (the places we shop from) are pretty much like you describe, spots don't bother them much.

Yeah, I remembe watching TV specials about the Dutch flower growers. and how they export their special glass green house to other countries. That was years ago, so I can only imagine how much more advance the technology is now.

[Cym Ladye]

NYCorchidman,

I see no visual signs of virus on the leaves at this magnification and generally flowers will show signs later in an infestation. However, without a test, you will not be absolutely certain.

In regard to the flowers, they appear to have been damaged while in the bud stage from any number of causes: sunburn, freeze, or bruising from any number of causes including sleeve damage. I cannot tell if mold or botritis may also be present as a secondary problem, but the damage appears to be primarily on the sepals, which are the outer segments when the flower is still in bud and is most sensitive to the above problems.

For your peace of mind, send a sample to Critter Creek, but if it does come back positive, in my opinion it will not be the reason for the black marks on the flowers on the very crowded flower stem on this blooming.

Cym Ladye

[NYCorchidman]

Many of the flowers have these brown spots that look like bruise but the second picture (it doesn't really show well in the picture) shows small brown dot surrounded by light yellow halo around, which I think is something more than just bruise.

The leaves look pretty good overall. One leaf has these small dots on the back toward the tip.
Another leaf has large brown indented spot both back and front side of it.

The bulbs have lots of small dots as well.
Then again, this is my first ever Cymbidium.

Thank you for the insight, Cym Ladye

[camille1585]

I think that the kind of spotting yours has on the bulbs and leaves is actually quite typical for Cyms, they often have spots like that. Sort of like Oncs also do.

[Cym Ladye]

The flower damage is all on the sepals as I suspected from the first photos.

The leaf damage seems more environmental than anything - burn, freeze etc. These plants in transit are not treated well and often end up in unheated trucks in freezing weather. Minor, unpatterned blemishes are fairly common in Cyms. They are, after all, not made of plastic.

I would suggest you send off a leaf to Critter Creek for your own peace of mind, as I can tell from your attention to detail that you will not rest until you know for sure. So many plants available in the mass market today are virused that I routinely test all plants coming into my collection with home test strips made by Agdia.

CL

[camille1585]

Out of curiosity, since you test everything, around what proportion of the orchids you get test positive?

[Paul]

An excellant yellow color!

[Cym Ladye]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Out of curiosity, since you test everything, around what proportion of the orchids you get test positive?

Camille,

Because I only buy divisions of, or entire mother plants from recognized hybridizers, or very young seedlings, my rate of + tests is virtually nonexistent. However, my reference in my earlier email was in regard to the mass mericlone market for plants purchased in the box stores and grocery stores. Many I have seen show obvious signs of virus if you know what to look for, and one does not even have to test for confimation. I do not buy mericlones. This is especially true of the Phal market. OUCH!

CL

[orchidsarefun]

I learnt a lesson about too much mollycoddling of orchids. I had a couple of cattleya repotted ( 10in ) cos I thought I wouldn't be able to do it. The nursery guy must have seen my face when he yanked the plants out, trimmed and then jammed them back in bigger pots. He said that orchids are tough ! After watching him jam in stakes for new odontos' flowers, I wondered ! Well all subsequently did well, and now I "chill" when it comes to dealing with my orchids. We all feel better !

...and that includes spots, brown patches, mites, fungus gnats, whatever. I firmly believe that if your plants are healthy and you treat them well, then they will naturally do well. ( as I touch wood )