Phalaenopsis leaf problems - Orchid Board

An_DS · #1 10-28-2014, 08:52 AM

Two of my Phalaenopsis keep having a leaf problem and I'm really thinking about throwing them out.
What happens: a new leaf pops up fine, after a while it starts de decolor and eventually dead parts can be seen. These 2 fellows did flower and struggle to survive. It definately ain't sunburn or cold damage.
It's not contagious. I really wonder if it ain't Cymbidium Mosaic Virus or ORSV or a combination. I have got Cymbidium as well, in another thread I'll post some pictures of them, I have one on my suspicious-list!
The last picture is a nearby Phalaenopsis, which seems te have something similar, but not as serious. Perhaps another cause there (mites).
What do you think?

Leafmite · #2 10-28-2014, 02:49 PM

Personally, I would probably toss those orchids. I have many other plants and orchids and I would be afraid that whatever they have is contagious. However, if you do not have a ton of plants, you probably are hoping to actually find an answer just in case those orchids are able to be saved. here is a good website to get you started:

http://www.vaos.org/vaosblog/wp-cont...SueBottom1.pdf

An_DS · #3 10-31-2014, 03:48 AM

It's not contagious. These plants have this for at least one or 2 years without spreading to other orchids. They have even bloomed. Could be some form of cell colapse. I've looked at a lot of pictures, even asked a grower but he didn't know either. If I purchase a virus kit, I will test them!

NYCorchidman · #4 10-31-2014, 02:50 PM

It's not worth buying the test kits. Just look at them.
Not to be mean or anything, but unless they are some rare valuable phals, I say toss and stop worrying. go buy new beautiful phlas in bloom and be happy!

ALToronto · #5 11-01-2014, 07:03 PM

I have the exact same problem with some of my phals - and the ones right next to them are blemish-free! It is a type of cell collapse, and then an opportunistic fungus moves into the damaged areas. I have no idea what the cause is or how to remedy it. I have lost a few plants to this completely. Might be genetic, in that some plants just don't like my growing conditions.

The winter temps in my home drop pretty low at night, down to 15-16 degrees, which is too cold for phals. Maybe some are still tolerant of these low temperatures, and some aren't.

lepetitmartien · #6 11-03-2014, 08:41 PM

It can be an acarian (Brevipalpus) attack with associated fungus (or worse). But if an acaricide+fungicide doesn't stop the issue, I'd drop the case in the bin…

An_DS · #7 11-17-2014, 02:59 AM

Tested them las weekend on CyMV and ORSV, result was negative. That's the good news. Because of indoor winter conditions, I treated my plants with Sporgon today. We'll see. ALToronto, which treatments have you tried?
Temperatures: they stay indoor: daytime min 20°C, nighttime 18°C during winter.

camille1585 · #8 11-17-2014, 03:37 AM

I have a phal with exactly the same thing. Actually I had 3, but I tossed the other 2. I am hesitant to toss the remaining one because it's a Phal primary hybrid that I really like, and so far haven't been able to track down a replacement...

(Oh, and I have the same Ikea shelf as you for my orchids! I recognize it in your last photo.

)

ALToronto · #9 11-17-2014, 07:55 AM

I haven't tried anything. On some plants, this only happens to one or two leaves, and new ones come out healthy. On others, even the new leaves have collapsed cells. I don't think it's bugs or a virus - I have healthy and affected plants in the same compot, coming from the same flask.

Survival of the fittest, I guess.