Degarmoara Hani 'Star of Unicorn' strange discoloration

[lotis146]

**Sorry for the repeat if you already saw this thread in Advanced Discussion, not sure if I should have posted here or there but anyways...

In July I think it was I got Degarmoara Hani 'Star of Unicorn', it surprisingly came in little spike!! The spike is quite tall now and just about in bud. However about a week ago I noticed some orangish-brown sort of translucent vertical spots, streaking rather on the main leaf on the pbulb that is in spike. Then several days ago I noticed that this coloring has moved down into the pbulb. It is not soft where this discoloration is occurring and the spike is continuing as normal. There's some orangish coloring if you will "in" the other pbulb but it's otherwise okay. When the spike was smaller a couple of the bracts (?) covering the buds browned at the tip but I assumed this to be sun damage as it is in a south-facing window.

If anyone has any knowledge of or experience with something like this please let me know.

[campchi]

I think u might have an infection, not sure but do keep an eye on to see if it keep spreading. Also see if you can smell anything funny from the pbulb.

[Leafmite]

How is the orchid doing? Seeing the pictures, it is difficult to tell what is happening, especially as I do not know the history of the orchid. Did it accidentally get too much light? Could water have gotten between the leaves? Did they get a little too cold?
I ordered a milt. seedling once and it looked like yours upon arrival. In that case, it turned out to be a vigorous infection and within twenty-four hours, the plant was gone. However, Brown rot isn't very common, especially in healthy, well-grown, mature orchids.
Let us know how the orchid is doing.

[lotis146]

Originally Posted by campchi

I think u might have an infection, not sure but do keep an eye on to see if it keep spreading. Also see if you can smell anything funny from the pbulb.

No there's no funny smell.

Originally Posted by Leafmite

How is the orchid doing? Seeing the pictures, it is difficult to tell what is happening, especially as I do not know the history of the orchid. Did it accidentally get too much light? Could water have gotten between the leaves? Did they get a little too cold?
I ordered a milt. seedling once and it looked like yours upon arrival. In that case, it turned out to be a vigorous infection and within twenty-four hours, the plant was gone. However, Brown rot isn't very common, especially in healthy, well-grown, mature orchids.
Let us know how the orchid is doing.

Too much light, water in between the leaves, both of those things are possible. I don't believe I put this plant out on any night. I got this plant at the end of July and it looked great. Overall the rest of the plant looks great. I've got 7 buds on the spike, assuming nothing goes haywire I should have a flower in maybe two weeks...?...!I thought perhaps it could be water damage but when it continued to spread into the pbulb I didn't know what to think.

When you both say infection you mean bacterial infection yes? Any suggestions for treatment? It was a surprise to me to find the small spike coming up from the leaf when I got it, and now i'm so close to seeing this beautiful flower then this happens!! NOOOO!! Must...save...orchid... In the sunlight you can see what looks to be a more yellow color inside the pbulb but again the plant overall looks fine.

[Leafmite]

Is it spreading? If it was what that milt had, it would spread very quickly. I am not sure if that sort of infection is caused by a fungus or bacteria, to be honest but here is a good link:
Orchid Pests, Orchid Diseases

In the meantime, you do want to keep the orchid away from your other orchids.

Hopefully, it is not an infection but something else. If water did get between the leaves, I would put more weight on the infection idea.
I have trouble diagnosing things on the internet as I find it helpfully to examine things closely and poke around a bit. I have had plants a long time and have learned that the 'obvious' isn't always so. That is why I asked for more details. I do hope the website helps and that others who are better at online diagnosing can also contribute. I do grow some in the Oncidium family but except for that milt (the one and only try with those), I have not seen anything like this. Keep us informed.

[WhiteRabbit]

I would isolate it to be safe. If it spreads, I'd be concerned about fusarium wilt...

[lotis146]

It seems to have spread around in the pbulb more, as in the area has increased.

Now I'm worried...I just did a group soak recently and was so concerned with hurrying up and getting it done I overlooked not putting this plant in. Dear lord, I feel stupid. Thank you both for the information, I'm going to visit that site and look up Fusarium wilt I'm really hoping I didn't just make a huge huge screw up. I don't usually water everyone the same but I had so much other stuff to do and wanted them to soak I just went ahead and did it.

Thanks again.

[judith_arquette]

Good luck. I hope everything turns out alright.

[lotis146]

Thanks Judith, me too!

I did notice that there is now some brown coming up vertically on the leaf of the other pbulb, so it definitely is spreading.

[Leafmite]

Okay, since it is spreading, you need to try to save whatever isn't already infected. You do that by removing all the infected growths, treating the healthy ones with a fungicide that contains copper (or, if none on hand, dip everything but the roots of the healthy growths in isoproyl alcohol to disinfect it.