Weird Leaves in New Growth of Oncidium

[KristenJ]

Hi everyone,

Recently a new pseudobulb on my Oncidium has been opening its leaves. However, I have noticed it has some browning and kind of sunken looking areas on the leaves. I am not sure if this is bacterial/fungal. I am concerned because a few months ago, this Oncidium was sitting on a shelf with 3 Dendrobiums that developed a possible virus. I have been spraying with Physan every 2 weeks since.

I am wondering if anyone has seen this before and knows what it may be. Also, because of potting media concerns, I am repotting this Oncidium soon and was wondering if I should just try to remove this pseudobulb. There seems to be no problems with any other parts of the plant.

Thanks!

[Island Girl]

I am no expert, so I may be wrong (have a couple Onc. but not much experience w/ them), but number one, if it was beside virused plants, & it looks sick, u might want to keep it separate and observe for awhile... Just in case.

Grain of salt: Could it be that u are using too much Physan (too often?), or mixing it too strongly? b/c the leaf tips look more 'burned', as opposed to what fungus or bacteria look like (but, maybe I'm wrong... This is just a guess)

If you were trying to fight off something bacterial (with the Physan 20), you might want to use *Phyton 27,* it's systemic (meaning its absorbed into the plant tissue), and will get to any bacteria that's gotten inside ur plant! *Just use rubber gloves when mixing up, to be on the safe side

Some of the board experts should be along shortly to give you some more seasoned advice, tho

[james mickelso]

This looks like it was either physically damaged when it was a very small shoot, stayed too wet when it was a small shoot, or caught a cold when it was a small shoot. This looks like it is drying out since the accident. By a cold I mean something happened to a small part of it when it was a small shoot and deformed it. I don't think it is virused. Fungal maybe or bacterial. Just keep an eye on it. If it continues to deteriorate, cut off the bad part and dust the cut edge with cinnamon. That will cauterize the wound. As long as the damage is arrested it can and most likely will produce flower spike next season. But be careful with your watering. That could have been the initial trouble.

[NYCorchidman]

Virus is a possible explanation, however, you have to get the plant tested to be sure.

Are the browning tips getting worse?
If not, then you can just leave as is and watch how the whole thing develops. It definitely is a deformity of some kind.

I have seen such "weird" growths on a few oncidium intergenerics at grocery stores.
If you don't like the look for whatever reason, you can just cut the whole thing off.
The older pb(s) will then sprout out some sleeping eyes.
just hope that they will grow out normally.

By the way, if you suspect virus, spraying physan 20 does not do anything.

[RosieC]

I would guess the same as James, being too wet when smaller. I've had ones that had turned brown inside outer leaves that were green. I believe it was because water had got trapped inside the outer leaves. As they grew the brown tips because visible like yours.

Just a guess though.

[KristenJ]

Okay, thank you everyone! I will continue to keep an eye on it. So far it has not spread or gotten any worse. It's just become noticeable as the outer green leaves have opened. It was a gift from a Whole Foods, so maybe this is common? It is also likely that I messed up the watering. But I will definitely be more careful in the future! Thanks again everyone!