Fusarium ?

[ALToronto]

Is this not treatable in an otherwise healthy plant? It's one thing if you need to get rid of the plant, but I would try to treat it and then at least donate it to my orchid society.

And is cutting the rhizome the only way to detect fusarium?

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by Ordphien

That's so sad.
It was such big specimen.
Oh well.
Maybe get a hybrid with smaller spikes this time lol.

Thanks - oh well, exactly ...

Yeah ... maybe a Twinkle

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

Is this not treatable in an otherwise healthy plant? It's one thing if you need to get rid of the plant, but I would try to treat it and then at least donate it to my orchid society.

And is cutting the rhizome the only way to detect fusarium?

Well, from my understanding, you can attempt to treat it, tho the likelihood of successful treatment is iffy - the best bet is if you can find a section of rhizome that looks clear. I cut a couple of places, and stopped. You need sterile cutters or blade for each cut - a time consuming job with no guarantees of any success. And, I don't know if it's a valid concern, but I worry about the more I might mess with it, the more I could be distributing spores all around . And, I don't know where I could possibly isolate a plant of its size for long...

So, I hardened my heart, said my good-byes ...

The purple ring confirms fusarium - this plant had no other noticeable symptoms yet, but an orchid I had previously (division given to me) had mysteriously (to me, at the time) rotting pbulbs - not black rotting, but light brown / beige-ish. I discovered a purple ring in the rhizome when I was cutting away the rotted parts. I didn't know at the time what that was - posted a pic here in OB and got the diagnosis.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by ALToronto

Is this not treatable in an otherwise healthy plant? It's one thing if you need to get rid of the plant, but I would try to treat it and then at least donate it to my orchid society.

And is cutting the rhizome the only way to detect fusarium?

OMG!
You should never donate sick plants!

---------- Post added at 01:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:45 PM ----------

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

Thanks - I expected as much. Plant is in great shape - which is why I was so surprised to see this ... but, not a hard one to replace, and, I need to downsize anyway ...

That reminds me of my cattleyas.
I divided a few of my cattleyas earlier this spring.
Well, almost all of them had this ring when cut.
I only threw away one, which was my beautiful Goldenzelle Lemon Schiffon.
It was growing well but all of sudden the roots started to rot out. The purple ring was very clear and thick on that one. I tossed without second thought.

The other cattleyas had tons of roots actively growing and flowering, so I kept them. They are all fine.
Now this makes me think is purple always a sign for the presence of fusarium or can it be something natural??
or is it that the plants will eventually die over the course of a very long time all the while spreading the disease?
or can fusarium affected plants fight the disease off on its own?

Anyone has answers??

[Gage]

I wouldn't toss a plant that is otherwise healthy. At least here in South Florida fusarium seems to be always around one's collection somewhere or other. Just something to watch for, trim back, and toss if the plant is becoming sick over it. Of course always use sterile tools and keep sick plants isolated.

[WhiteRabbit]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

That reminds me of my cattleyas.
I divided a few of my cattleyas earlier this spring.
Well, almost all of them had this ring when cut.
I only threw away one, which was my beautiful Goldenzelle Lemon Schiffon.
It was growing well but all of sudden the roots started to rot out. The purple ring was very clear and thick on that one. I tossed without second thought.

The other cattleyas had tons of roots actively growing and flowering, so I kept them. They are all fine.
Now this makes me think is purple always a sign for the presence of fusarium or can it be something natural??
or is it that the plants will eventually die over the course of a very long time all the while spreading the disease?
or can fusarium affected plants fight the disease off on its own?

Anyone has answers??

From what I read, yes, the purple ring is confirmation of fusarium. And that sick plants will succumb usually sooner than later, but some may show no symptoms for many months. I haven't read about the possibility of plants fighting of the infection.

What I have read is that if you can find a segment of clear rhizome, that section may be treated with copper fungicide. Sterile blades for each cut made are necessary.

I don't know how easily it may spread to other plants, outside of not sanitizing pots and cutters - but I do those, and this plant got it somehow - and I've never cut the rhizome before, and only time there may have been any root snipping was a few years ago, after I first got it ... So, Altho, it's possible I had a stupid, careless lapse ...

[NYCorchidman]

BLC Goldenzelle Lemon Schiffon I tossed, I had it for over one year. The whole time it grew a few leads and rebloomed for me with three flowers on one stem! It was the best performing standard cattleya for me. I never cut anything off of that plant, so I don't know if it came with the disease and slowly ate up the plant or how else the fungal agent might have come in. I also remember reading how fusarium is ever present pretty much anywhere and enters plants via wound on the roots.
Maybe that bamboo skew I used to stake the stem or maybe through wounds made by those damn little bush snails. It did have lots of it although I caught as many as I could find diligently.

I recently lost one paph to a rot. It also had generous amount of snails.

Maybe I should start repotting all the incoming orchids now. oh, well...

I just bought another Goldenzelle. I want to cut the rhizome and see if it has that purple ring.