Is this color break?

[SJF]

I have a cattleya. I think it may be: blc love sound 'pachi pachi' x slc. jeweler's art carved coral'.

A friend gave it to me. I don't know if the blooms have color break or if this is the way this orchid blooms. I will add pictures of the leaves too

[SJF]

one more

[NYCorchidman]

On flowers, yes, those streaks and uneven tone are considered color break.
On leaves, it can be due to some physiological issues or can be caused by virus.

You cannot be sure unless you get it tested.

[SJF]

If a flower was already blooming during shipment could it affect the color if it was cold? It was shipped from Hawaii to NJ last week. It has been very cold in this area. Not sure how the grower packed the box and how many hot packs were included, if any. I am thinking not and that woud leave the only other reason for color break in blooms to be viral.

[Stray59]

SJF:
Usually cold damage looks "watery" or shriveled; perhaps a mild cold damage could cause this effect. I found a really good example of your orchid on "Hawiian Tropicals Direct" website (HAWAIIAN TROPICALS DIRECT - BARBARA IANNONE)
You have to scroll down quite a way as the pic is one of several.
The blooms have a pink shading of color around each petal, but the pics do not show the streaking and odd coloring that yours is showing. And the leaves bother me due to the pattern of lighter green / yellowish colors.
I agree - test it before you let it slobber on your other orc's - really suspicious looking.
A real shame if it is viral - VERY PRETTY ORC!
I really love the color - screams tropical to me!
Steve

[SJF]

Originally Posted by Stray59

SJF:
Usually cold damage looks "watery" or shriveled; perhaps a mild cold damage could cause this effect. I found a really good example of your orchid on "Hawiian Tropicals Direct" website (HAWAIIAN TROPICALS DIRECT - BARBARA IANNONE)
You have to scroll down quite a way as the pic is one of several.
The blooms have a pink shading of color around each petal, but the pics do not show the streaking and odd coloring that yours is showing. And the leaves bother me due to the pattern of lighter green / yellowish colors.
I agree - test it before you let it slobber on your other orc's - really suspicious looking.
A real shame if it is viral - VERY PRETTY ORC!
I really love the color - screams tropical to me!
Steve

Thanks Steve. That is actually the grower of this orchid according to the tag. It was just purchased. I am worried because I also bought orchids from the same shipment and wonder if the plants touching each other in the box could have spread it. I just took more pictures, had time since it is snowing. I am going to post them. I was looking on the AOS website and wondered it it could be orchid blossom midge. I love the color of this orchid. I have the worst luck lately getting diseased plants . There is a small white spotty area on the one flower stem that could be insects. Something chewed the petals at some point. I have a lot of plants from this grower that I buy in the grocery store. I would hate to have to test all the plants as it would be very expensive

[SJF]

and these pictures

[Stray59]

I can't say for sure as the pictures of the stems are a little fuzzy, but it looks like you have a mealybug there; either that or scale. And if you have one showing, you have half a million that are hiding. There is a great way to get rid of any pest anywhere on the plant or in the soil using dry ice - I read about it in the "terrarrium" section and posted it a couple of time - search for "dry ice" and you should be able to find the posts. Works great, no residue or poison and plants get a CO2 treatment that they love.
As far as the blooms go - fist of all I think they are older blooms which affects the general coloring, plus any bloom that is shipped is likely to get bent, crushed, etc and this will effect the coloring also. But it usually does not cause streaking in my experience, so I really can't say.
There really is no way to tell unless you test. I pick out the most suspicious and I have a "possibly infected" area that they live in until they are tested. Once tested, I mark the tag with a test date if they are clean and then move on to others as I can afford it. It is costly, but it would cost more to replace your entire collection wouldn't it? Just be careful not to cross-contaminate (easier said than done, I know) and until the collection is completely tested.
It's about the only way the average hobbyist can afford to do testing.
Let us know - I would love a clone of this one, but want to know your results first.
Steve

[SJF]

Originally Posted by Stray59

I can't say for sure as the pictures of the stems are a little fuzzy, but it looks like you have a mealybug there; either that or scale. And if you have one showing, you have half a million that are hiding. There is a great way to get rid of any pest anywhere on the plant or in the soil using dry ice - I read about it in the "terrarrium" section and posted it a couple of time - search for "dry ice" and you should be able to find the posts. Works great, no residue or poison and plants get a CO2 treatment that they love.
As far as the blooms go - fist of all I think they are older blooms which affects the general coloring, plus any bloom that is shipped is likely to get bent, crushed, etc and this will effect the coloring also. But it usually does not cause streaking in my experience, so I really can't say.
There really is no way to tell unless you test. I pick out the most suspicious and I have a "possibly infected" area that they live in until they are tested. Once tested, I mark the tag with a test date if they are clean and then move on to others as I can afford it. It is costly, but it would cost more to replace your entire collection wouldn't it? Just be careful not to cross-contaminate (easier said than done, I know) and until the collection is completely tested.
It's about the only way the average hobbyist can afford to do testing.
Let us know - I would love a clone of this one, but want to know your results first.
Steve

Thanks Steve. I will let you know. I guess I have to bite the bullet and buy test strips from Agdia. It is expensive

[SJF]

Originally Posted by SJF

Thanks Steve. I will let you know. I guess I have to bite the bullet and buy test strips from Agdia. It is expensive

Sorry for the fuzzy pictures. These seem better