Is this a virus or sunburn? - Orchid Board

failingflopsis · #1 01-12-2009, 04:33 PM

My L. pumila 'Haiku' has these "spots". Is this something I should be worried about as in "THROW that away before it spreads" or do you think it is sunburn? They seem to get worse when the plant is exposed to more light. I was told this is a plant that likes high light so I have been trying to give it more in the orchidarium. Any suggestions?

Is this a virus or sunburn?-orchids-09-039-jpg

Is this a virus or sunburn?-orchids-09-041-jpg

Is this a virus or sunburn?-orchids-09-040-jpg

Ross · #2 01-12-2009, 04:42 PM

Naw! Don't throw that away. I've seen this before but don't know what it is for sure. Don't think it's a virus or a rot-related disease. Not even sure it's a disease. Just seperate it from the others and watch to see if it "spreads". If I were a betting man, I'd bet it will grow out of it for a while, then come back. Keep it in the light. That may be freckles?

ronaldhanko · #3 01-12-2009, 05:10 PM

It doesn't look dangerous to me. Virus usually shows itself in deformations and in yellowish streaks. It may be just the plant producing extra pigments in high light.

bonsai1504 · #4 01-12-2009, 06:10 PM

My Brassavola Little Stars had the same thing on its leaves when i moved it into higher light. I moved it back into its old growing place and the leaves turned back to normal after a few days.

MuscleGirl'sHobby · #5 01-13-2009, 12:22 AM

I have some plants that got the same coloring when they suddenly got higher light. I moved them back to a little less light and the spread of color stopped. It hasn't gone away though. But new growth since the "sun spots" hasn't been affected.

Swamper · #6 01-13-2009, 02:51 AM

Same thing just happened to one of my vandas that I moved into a more sunlit area and I suspected that it has to be a little too much sun without the sunblock, so Ive moved it back.
Gettin a lot of sun in Alaska this winter???

ronaldhanko · #7 01-13-2009, 11:06 AM

These spots are not the result of two much sun unless the area turns brown and dies. When a plant does this it is getting the optimal light.

Ross · #8 01-13-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

These spots are not the result of two much sun unless the area turns brown and dies. When a plant does this it is getting the optimal light.

I agree. It's not a bad thing if one wants flowers. Less light may lead to less tendency to bloom.

MuscleGirl'sHobby · #9 01-13-2009, 10:11 PM

Ron and Ross... Thank you! I'm moving the little sun spotted baby back to the brigher light. And I'll quit worrying about them. Nobody has dead parts, just some coloring, so that is good

failingflopsis · #10 01-13-2009, 10:33 PM

Thanks for the info. I'll move mine back into the light also. The plant has never bloomed for me. I'm not sure how big blooming size is.

Quote:

Gettin a lot of sun in Alaska this winter???

Actually, since Christmas we have been in an Artic freeze. Bright sunny weather with highs staying below
0. It warmed up today to 20 and snowed, T-shirt weather!!!