Phalaenosis fasciata with ring spots on leaves - virus?

[sithwitch]

I ordered this phal. fasciata 2 months ago along with 2 others. It had 2 flowers on that survived the borderling too-cool shipping and everything was fine.

The plant was good looking, shiny uniform green leaves and with 4 basal keikis, I loved it. Then 2 weeks ago I noticed some slight yellowing on a leaf. The plant is in low light (500fc) until I can set my t5 ups, but the other 2 phals right next to it are fine and one is blooming and throwing another spike. I figured it needed a bit more light but could wait 2 weeks, when I noticed the ring spots.








Each keiki is growing a new leaf, the new leaves seem fine, but I've been looking at orchid disease listings and the markings really look like Capsicum chlorosis virus
Anyone had the same issue or believe it might be a virus? I guess I am hoping someone will tell me it's a fungus so I might try to save the poor (and a bit expensive) thing.

I soaked the whole plant in a physan solution and repotted it, in case it's a light fungus attack from my being careless with dripping water since it seemed to came on suddenly.

Should I start the funeral proceedings? (and maybe contact the seller, since none of my plants have ever shown any viral symptoms)

[tucker85]

The first picture looks like Mesophyll Cell Collapse which can be caused by sudden changes in temperature or very cold water getting on the leaves. The second picture does look like virus to me, because of the circular pattern. Keep the plant isolated and check for color break when it blooms. If the flowers have an unusual shape or white or dark streaks in the color, I would get rid of the orchid.

[sithwitch]

Oh damn Not good either way, not sure it's cell collapse, seeing as it's temperature conditions haven't changed since I got it (though I certainly wish it would be, better than a virus!). I might have dropped water on it and other plants while watering, but not cold water and I always wipe it off afterwards.

But I am glad you mentioned that condition! I don't recall reading about it but I certainly now about now! I'll certainly be way more careful of getting water on leaves now and be on the lookout for this.

The flowers it had when I received it were perfect but I have zero previous experience with viruses so I'll just isolate it and watch to see if there's any progression until it blooms again. I'll keep my fingers crossed for the poor thing. Either way, it'll be a learning experience! Thank you for the tips!

[Bud]

the first picture looks like fungi with the telltale yellowish rings around the circles...then looking at the rest of the picture makes me think of small snails under the media mix and goes out at night to eat the leaves(as I saw the rest of the pictures with the other new leaves being eaten)....repot and change the media and destroy the snail eggs with table salt sprinkled in the old media before throwing it in the thrash

[FairyInTheFlowers]

If you lose this plant, I have a kieki of fasciata 'Schaffers' I could send you in the spring time.

[sithwitch]

Bud, I removed all the old sphag and soaked the whole plant in a physan solution incase in was some fungi and the moss could be contaminated.
I guess the change would take care of any snails, annoying buggers! Had a cattleya with some and I'd wake up every morning with one chomping at the newest pbulb
Somehow didn't think it could be bugs on the phal, I'll be looking at all my plants real close for the next while!

And TheBlazingAugust, this plant is actually the phal. fasciata 'Schaffers' form Kingfisher that I ordered after I saw yours! It's why I find it so depressing because it was a glorious specimen with all the basal keikis. It's why I am so stomped in a way too, since the speciosia and ambo I got at the same time are thriving, so I am really scratching my head at what I could have done, since I doubt the problem came from them in hindsight. Plant looked perfect coming in.

And thank you for the keiki offer but i might just give in and order another adult plant from them in spring (along with companions of course!) since I am a very impatient person. Heck, I am considering making a day trip to Toronto to get plants I missed last October show... which would amount to 14 hours of driving, instead of waiting for the March expo

[zxyqu]

Now that I know the clone, and not to ruin anyone's hopes, but I have heard the same complaints of fasciata "Shaffers" before. Ring spots on leaves. Tough to imagine that several locales will display the same symptoms, and that virus is highly suspected. Also, given this is an older clone, and seeing these pictures, that would get my vote. Either way, be very careful with this one.

[sithwitch]

Oh, ouch And it's such a great looking 'chid too.

I think I'll throw it away then, I really don't want to risk my collection and I really can't isolate it far enough from the others for my peace of mind, since I can only maintain proper humidity in one room.

And as I saw new circle spots appear on other leaves this morning, I think even if it isn't a virus, I really don't now what else I could do to save it.

Maybe one day I'll stop feeling like I let the plants down so much when I give up! Thank you all for the help

[FairyInTheFlowers]

Jarad's hypothesis sounds quite reasonable. I wonder if I'd be able to get virus free plants if I were to self my fasciata and then sow the seeds dry. . .

[zxyqu]

You probably could, depending on where the virus has integrated/exists. However, if you try this, tell whomever sows the seed to NOT SCRAPE THE POD!! When I hear of people sowing dry seed and scraping out the pod for all the seed, it makes me cringe. Just a little bit of the pod plant flower tissue might be sufficient to spread the virus to the seed.