Cattleya pseudobulb black spots

[DennisZ]

Recently I notcied my cattleya (Slc. circle of life x Lc.Walagery) has black colouration and black dots on it's pseudobulbs. It's leaves look fine to me, some dark colouring here and there but nothing too prominent. Should I be concerned? Is there a possibility that it might be a virus causing it?

[silken]

I can't see that well from your photos. But it looks similar to the problem I was having with some of my Cattleyas. It seemed to be a calcium deficiency. I started adding a Cal/Mag supplement to my fertilizer water about 6 months ago and feel like I am seeing less of the black spotting. I don't know where you live but in my city the pH is very high and it may have been affecting the uptake of nutrients. There are other people on this forum who feel their Catts need extra calcium too and had the same black rot problems as I did.

I also notice your plant looks very over-potted, so you might want to see how the roots are. Most orchids like to be in a pot that just fits their roots or leaves a bit of space for growth but not a lot. Root rot occurs if over potted. That can affect the rest of the plant also.

[DennisZ]

Thanks for the response, I'll be sure to post better pictures tomorrow morning. I water all my other orchids with the same water and they seem to be doing well (though this is my only cattleya). Would it work if I added some calcium powder (for reptiles) into my fertilizer water? So far, my only fertilizer is the shultz 19-31-17, I can't find any other orchid fertilizer for sale. Any idea where I can purchase other orchid fertilizers? (high nitrogen for growth, etc).

I actually repotted this orchid from an even larger pot.... It was one of my first orchids so I initially ridiculously over-potted it, and all the roots rotted. But in this pot it seems to be doing ok, it grew some healthy roots that stretch the diameter of the pot and down into the media. Thanks for noting it though, I think I'll re-pot it to be on the safe side.

[Jenn4a]

I'm new to orchids so I'm sure other members can tell you were they get their supplies, but I use amazon.com. I find that it has most of what I need (or eBay)

As far as using the reptile product, it probably depends on all of the ingredients in it?

[silken]

Originally Posted by DennisZ

Thanks for the response, I'll be sure to post better pictures tomorrow morning. I water all my other orchids with the same water and they seem to be doing well (though this is my only cattleya). Would it work if I added some calcium powder (for reptiles) into my fertilizer water? So far, my only fertilizer is the shultz 19-31-17, I can't find any other orchid fertilizer for sale. Any idea where I can purchase other orchid fertilizers? (high nitrogen for growth, etc).

I actually repotted this orchid from an even larger pot.... It was one of my first orchids so I initially ridiculously over-potted it, and all the roots rotted. But in this pot it seems to be doing ok, it grew some healthy roots that stretch the diameter of the pot and down into the media. Thanks for noting it though, I think I'll re-pot it to be on the safe side.

as Jenn4a mentioned, Amazon or E-Bay might help. I have found my Cal/Mag liquid supplement in a hydroponics store, as well as good variety of plant foods and kelp (seaweed) which is great for encouraging root growth.

I grow many different orchids and the Catts are the ones that usually show these black spots and then only some do it. But there is a fair bit of discussion on this forum about Catts having a need for more calcium than other orchids. Using Epsom salts (1 Tbsp. per gal) can help or eggshells. I can't say about your reptile calcium as I don't know anything about it. I prefer a proper Cal/Mag supplement as the magnesium helps the calcium be used and I know how much I am actually giving the plant. With eggshells it would be a slower less precise thing.

If the plant is good root wise, I wouldn't rush to re-pot it until you see new root growth starting. That's the best time to re-pot them unless they need re-potting due to stress from their potting media. If the roots fit the pot, that's fine, but to me it does look like a very large pot for the size of the plant. Cattleya roots need to dry out right thru the pot before watering or come very close to dry. especially in cooler temps.

[DennisZ]

I hope these are better pictures. The black dots are spreading on the psudobulbs and are starting to appear from the tip of the leaf of the "infected" pseudobulb. I'm considering of trashing this cattleya if it is virused, any thoughts on this?

[wintergirl]

I wouldn't toss your plant, it's probably due to low calcium like the others have said. The marks won't go away after adding calcium but you will stop getting more.

[Roey.P.]

Take a egg shell and clean it from the egg in water then brake the shell in your pot do this again when you see no egg shell remains. Good luck. And don't go and buy shity calcium fertilize this is a free and frese way to help your plant. For metal as much as I know most orchids living on trees so they don't get metals that in the ground.

[euplusia]

If it was mine, I'd be concerned. Not of virus, but of some malicious fungus infection. I think the only possibility is to cut away the front bulb close to the rhizom with a sharp razor blade and put cinnamon powder on the wound.
Then place the plant in brighter light, keep it a bit warmer and a bit to the dry side.
I still have a similar looking infection especially in Cattleya dowiana. In my observation it occurs in wintertime in northern territories.

[DennisZ]

Originally Posted by euplusia

If it was mine, I'd be concerned. Not of virus, but of some malicious fungus infection. I think the only possibility is to cut away the front bulb close to the rhizom with a sharp razor blade and put cinnamon powder on the wound.
Then place the plant in brighter light, keep it a bit warmer and a bit to the dry side.
I still have a similar looking infection especially in Cattleya dowiana. In my observation it occurs in wintertime in northern territories.

I'm quite afraid that it would set my plant back for a long time, I think all the pseudobulbs have some black markings. I'll try fertilizing with more calcium and magnesium as mentioned, but if the problem persists, I guess I'd have no choice but to cut the pseudobulb off.