BLC Waianae Leopard "Ching Hua" taken by Fusarium

[NYCorchidman]

No pictures, but the plant was purchased in late June. The flowers were nice and fragrance was amazing!

After a couple of weeks in bloom, the flowers started to wilt, which I thought was strange because this cattleya flowers are supposed to be long lasting.
All the flowers dropped, then leaves started to wrinkle and lose substance. The pbs were all severely wrinkled up as well.

I watered it good but things did not get better.

Just today, I found that dreaded "bottom up" dark rot on some of the pbs.
The plant is pitched.

I hope the disease did not spread to any other orchids.

well, I guess I will get another one of the same plant.
The good news is that it is not a rare plant.

[james mickelso]

Sorry buddy. Those are very nice plants. Very fragrant and long lasting. Worth it.

[SJF]

So sorry! How is it transferred

[NYCorchidman]

I have no idea, but I think somehow it came infected because it was fine for the first two weeks or so, then very quick decline.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I have no idea, but I think somehow it came infected because it was fine for the first two weeks or so, then very quick decline.

NY,
Sorry, are you going to mention it to them?

I think I have a few outside that came with it. I bought some Catts and Dendros in the Spring and the pseudobulbs came shriveled and twisted. The leaves have never stopped being leathery. It was the order we PM'd about after I posted pictures. I hope it isn't the same thing

Sorry again
~SJF

[Leafmite]

I am sorry to hear of the loss. I have been contemplating getting that very same orchid!
I just took in my dendrobium delicatum to my OS meeting due to some suspicious markings and the botany professor took one look and said that he was quite certain it was a virus. One of the members took it and said he will try to confirm this for me. Sigh. It is always disappointing when this sort of thing happens. Like you, I am hoping that this hasn't spread to any of my other plants. Again, sorry about your loss.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by SJF

NY,
Sorry, are you going to mention it to them?

I think I have a few outside that came with it. I bought some Catts and Dendros in the Spring and the pseudobulbs came shriveled and twisted. The leaves have never stopped being leathery. It was the order we PM'd about after I posted pictures. I hope it isn't the same thing

Sorry again
~SJF

No, I think it'll have to just pass.
You want to check the roots on yours and the pbs.
I understand that usually the fungus will kill the plant by spreading throughout the entire plant over the course of weeks to months.

If yours have been looking all dried up but no "dark death" has shown up on pbs or leaves for quite some time, then it may not be the same disease but other issues.

---------- Post added at 12:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I am sorry to hear of the loss. I have been contemplating getting that very same orchid!
I just took in my dendrobium delicatum to my OS meeting due to some suspicious markings and the botany professor took one look and said that he was quite certain it was a virus. One of the members took it and said he will try to confirm this for me. Sigh. It is always disappointing when this sort of thing happens. Like you, I am hoping that this hasn't spread to any of my other plants. Again, sorry about your loss.

Fungal diseases spread much more readily than virus.
I think virus only spreads via mechanical damage, while with fungal attack you basically have to either spray or depend on plant's ability to defend itself or fight it off.

[euplusia]

Fusarium is very difficult to treat. I normally see it in wintertime due to a lack of natural light. If it starts from back-rhizome and backbulbs, sometimes a razor-blade-cut in healthy tissue can help to rescue the plant.
I guess that fusarium can survive inside the plant for a long time. The plant is infected, but not sick. Once the plant is severely weakend, the visible disease takes place. It kills a big plant within days or weeks.
To rescue the plant is even more difficult and time consuming as it is considerably exhausted.
Flowering, shipping or going to an orchid show can be very stressful for an orchid.
Fusarium is also highly contagious.
Not scientific, just my personal observation.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by euplusia

Fusarium is very difficult to treat. I normally see it in wintertime due to a lack of natural light. If it starts from back-rhizome and backbulbs, sometimes a razor-blade-cut in healthy tissue can help to rescue the plant.
I guess that fusarium can survive inside the plant for a long time. The plant is infected, but not sick. Once the plant is severely weakend, the visible disease takes place. It kills a big plant within days or weeks.
To rescue the plant is even more difficult and time consuming as it is considerably exhausted.
Flowering, shipping or going to an orchid show can be very stressful for an orchid.
Fusarium is also highly contagious.
Not scientific, just my personal observation.

I know. I have heard and seen horrible stuff about how evil fusarium can be.
I hope all my other plants stay healthy and strong. I wouldn't be surprised if fungal spores from that plant was flown around all over in my apartment.

I actually did cut one or two pbs with white roots, but they both had very shriveled pbs and soft leathery leaves. I tossed them all eventually in fear of the disease spreading everywhere.

I can buy the same plant any time if I wanted.