I'm dealing with a virus?

[LizB88]

Hello everyone. I know that if I want to be sure of what this orchid has I need to do a virus test, and since I don't have the budget for that I am asking here.
I had this plant for about 2 years and when I first got it, with in two weeks it had an infestation of mealybugs, which has since being taken care off. And now the new growth is showing this spots (picture) they are only on the new growth. I have isolated this plant from the rest and if it is a virus, It would be the first time I am dealing with one. I sanitize all my instruments and keep my growing space clean and disinfected.
What do you typically do with virus plant? trash them?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Hi LizB888
Ring spots are concerning, and you are probably right to isolate it for now.

Most of the viruses I've seen that leave ring-shaped spots produce multiple rings that are concentric, rather than a single ring without concentric rings. Others here may have personal experience with viruses that look like this; let's see what others have to say. The concentric rings associated with ring spot viruses usually have yellowing or browning associated with the rings.

If you can't test and want to be cautious to protect other plants, tossing it could be the safest option. If you can truly keep it isolated from your other plants, you can see if those rings change at all over time.

[LizB88]

Thank you for your response Orchid Wisperer, I will keep it isolated for some time and see what develops. I am also thinking of contacting the grower I got it from and see if they have an idea of what I am dealing with. At this point definitely isolation is a must, I don't want this to spread to the rest of my orchids. Five years ago during my move I lost almost all of my collection (over 200 plants) do to my poor planning on my part. It was a hard lesson to learn and not take for grated a small change in the environment for orchids.

[Ray]

I would guess a bacterial infection, or possibly fungal, before going to a virus...

[Roberta]

That looks more like insect damage than virus. Virus does not tend to show up quickly. Insect bites can introduce bacterial/fungal infections, or just show up as damaged spots. Keeping it isolated for awhile is a good idea. but if it doesn't show up in other leaves it should be "safe" .

[LizB88]

Ray and Roberta,
I hope you guys are right (and you probably are), I'll keep it isolated for for several weeks and see what does or does not happen and will keep you posted.

Liz

[thefish1337]

Originally Posted by Roberta

That looks more like insect damage than virus. Virus does not tend to show up quickly. Insect bites can introduce bacterial/fungal infections, or just show up as damaged spots. Keeping it isolated for awhile is a good idea. but if it doesn't show up in other leaves it should be "safe" .

My C. mossiae got spots like this when I failed to notice a serious scale infestation. Check for armored scale!

[LizB88]

Originally Posted by thefish1337

My C. mossiae got spots like this when I failed to notice a serious scale infestation. Check for armored scale!

Thanks thefish1337 for the suggestion, I have check for scale and thank goodness that I have not found any. The only pest that have attacked this orchid have being the mealybugs and it was a quick and fast infestation, so I gave it a good wash, changed the media and a clean pot as well, and have being keeping a eye on it. I do check on my orchids daily for pest as in the pass I lost most of my orchids because of snails, slugs, wood roaches and aphids, so now I do daily checks and so far so good, except for this. And you are right I may need to check the media again to make sure that no eggs are left behind.

[LizB88]

A quick update. No change to the plant, no more mealybugs (finger cross) and no change in the appearance of the leaf and no spread of the spots. So all in all it is looking good.

[LizB88]

Quick up date: So the plant is doing well and no new changes to the leaves, no new pest either! And it has new growth to boot!