Odbrs. Fangtastic Bob Henley 'HOF' #4

[NYCorchidman]

It is hit with a fungal disease I would say.
See the darker spots in the midst of the grey and dry area? That is a good sign of fruiting body I think.

Whatever it really is, I doubt frost damage, it does not look good. You paid more than usual for something that looks this bad??

This plant is not that hard to find. It is highly mericloned, so fairly common and easy to grow and grows fast into large size plant, which means they should not cost very much.

How cold does it get in your area?
These plants can generally withstand a little bit of cold, down to 50 F is no problem as many of them come from high altitude mountainous area.

Orchids do not have bulbs, hence the name pseudo bulbs. lol

[charitysmama]

Oh, so all bulbs on orchids are pseudo bulbs, right? We have had several nights of freezing weather, I am being hopeful. Is there anything I can do besides keeping it isolated?

[NYCorchidman]

Yes. True bulbs will be like tulip bulbs.

Well, not knowing exactly what the problem is, I really don't know.

How does the rest of the plant look??

Whatever the weather outside, indoor where you feel comfortable without wearing thick fur coat, your orchids will also be fine.

[charitysmama]

I am posting more pics. I went back to the store where I bought mine and was going to talk to the garden manager, but didn't find him. I was going to tell him what I had been told because they still had three more in worse shape than mine. I don't know if the virus would spread.

[MattWoelfsen]

I am not paying as much attention to my larger plants as I am with my smaller orchids. Last year this plant spiked on one psuedobulb and that pbulb produced two growths which have been getting larger and growing since December 2013. I've been looking at the leaves on this plant, with black spots. And I was horrified there was this black growth. I looked at it closer and realized these are flower spikes. Last year's flower spike was green, this year both spikes are black? In addition, these spikes are thicker than last year, and arrived earlier.

[charitysmama]

Originally Posted by MattWoelfsen

I am not paying as much attention to my larger plants as I am with my smaller orchids. Last year this plant spiked on one psuedobulb and that pbulb produced two growths which have been getting larger and growing since December 2013. I've been looking at the leaves on this plant, with black spots. And I was horrified there was this black growth. I looked at it closer and realized these are flower spikes. Last year's flower spike was green, this year both spikes are black? In addition, these spikes are thicker than last year, and arrived earlier.

I had forgotten about my Bob Henley orchid, put it in the greenhouse and just kept it watered and fed. After I read your post I went out and checked it. It has new growth and no sign of the previous black stuff that looked like a virus. Thanks for the post. Encouraging!!

[lotis146]

Is that pbulb rotting? My Miltonia - now in bloom, see my Miltonia spectabilis x Seminole blood - spike started out green and remained so for several weeks but then it turned dark. Mine is more of a dark maroon color but I assumed it to be related to the color of the flower, genetics at play so to speak. And in my case at least I believe this to be so as the spike continued its development and now has two blooms and two more buds still developing. Perhaps others have had similar experiences and can weigh in. I don't know what to say about the black spots on the leaves though.

Good job getting the spikes! (Maybe the flowers will be darker?)

[charitysmama]

I have read on the internet that oncidiums are prone to black spots, doesn't mean anything. I have a large one that has black spots, but looks healthy, and still puts out flower spikes. lh

[MattWoelfsen]

Hi charitysmom, I read similar information regarding Oncidium black spots.

Lotus, the pBulbs on my plant started turning brown a couple of years ago. The older the pBlubs have gotten, the darker they become. I thought they were rotting. But they are very firm.

[charitysmama]

So is it possible that on my other oncidiums when the bulbs get wrinkled but are still firm, that means that they are getting old? They seem to be getting enough water.