Fusarium Wilt on new Cattleya?

[MaterializeDaydreams]

I just got this orchid 2-3 weeks ago. The largest psuedobulb that looked a bit darkish and cloudy before now has a purple tinge that's creeping up the leaf. The new tiny baby shoot near the center of the first photo, below and to the right of the biggest psuedobulb, is all purple. The leaves are wrinkled with lines as I tried to show in the second photo. I am afraid it has Fusarium Wilt, but I don't want to give up yet. It's 2' from its neighbor and I bleach the watering bucket before and after I water this one. Please let me know what you think.

Also, two of the leaves have small black sunken spots on them that have not seemed to spread since I brought it home. I'm not sure if that is related to my question or not. I'm still pretty new to this.

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[Nexogen]

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by MaterializeDaydreams

I just got this orchid 2-3 weeks ago. The largest psuedobulb that looked a bit darkish and cloudy before now has a purple tinge that's creeping up the leaf. The new tiny baby shoot near the center of the first photo, below and to the right of the biggest psuedobulb, is all purple. The leaves are wrinkled with lines as I tried to show in the second photo. I am afraid it has Fusarium Wilt, but I don't want to give up yet. It's 2' from its neighbor and I bleach the watering bucket before and after I water this one. Please let me know what you think.

Also, two of the leaves have small black sunken spots on them that have not seemed to spread since I brought it home. I'm not sure if that is related to my question or not. I'm still pretty new to this.

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Hi MD

I saw the 2 photos, but also 2 attachments I could not open (?)

I do not see anything in the 2 photos that jumps out and says "fusarium wilt" to me. Tissues can become purple on a healthy plant if sunlight increases, for example. If you are concerned, keep the plant isolated from others, watch and observe.

FW is a fungal disease, the phloem (water-transmitting tissue) in the rhizome will be blocked and the result is that the leaves will not get enough water, leaves will become dehydrated and leathery, pseudobulbs become shrunken, twisted. With FW, the dead-giveaway is cutting through the live rhizome, if it shows a purple ring around the rhizome, that is FW (always sterilize cutting tools before and after you make a cut, either flame-sterilize or soak in bleach or a TSP solution).

[silken]

I didn't see a bunch of purple in these pics. Maybe close-ups would help? The plant looks OK from what I can make out from the pics.

[MaterializeDaydreams]

Thank you for your answers! The 2 photos visible are the only ones I hoped to show. I haven't made a post with photos on the forum yet, so I am clumsy. I wish my camera would take more zoomed in photos but any closer than this and they come out blurry.

I will keep this plant and hope it stays growing well. I would have guessed that the new shoot wouldn't have come up so quickly and look so full and nice if it really was Fusarium Wilt, but some of the info I've read says it can take up to a year to kill the plant. I do have it about 2' from a southern window, so increased sunlight is a possibility. The leaves are not wilty or yellow at all, just lined with wrinkles.

[silken]

It may be getting too much light too soon which can cause purple coloration. That's OK and means optimum light but take care that it doesn't get sunburn. If it is warm and very bright, it may be needing more water if the leaves are wrinkled. If the pseudobulbs are wrinkled, that's a different matter. Many older pseudobulbs develop deep creases and it is normal and often non-reversible. Take care not to over water too. Cattleyas should dry out before watering again.

[euplusia]

Fusarium wilt in Cattleyas usually starts in the backbulbs and back rhizome, the front leaves are infected at last. Bulbs and leaves turn yellow, only if you cut the rhizome you find a purple ring.