What is this??? - Orchid Board

Harris E. · #1 02-05-2016, 02:22 PM

Hi there,

One of the flowers on this cattleya hybrid came out super distorted. I don't like the color break on the petals either. I've attached pictures of a healthy flower and the whole plant for reference. What is going on?

Thanks for the help

Harris

silken · #2 02-05-2016, 02:33 PM

It looks like possible colour break virus. Are those spotted leaves part of the same plant? Is it a first bloom for you and first time this showed up? I would consider getting it tested. When handling this make sure to sterilize all tools etc and don't share water from this one with any other plants.

It could be an environmental stress, but does look like colour break also.

estación seca · #3 02-05-2016, 02:37 PM

I was going to suggest thrips until I saw the leaves. I would test for virus ASAP.

kg5 · #4 02-06-2016, 04:41 AM

Quote:

I was going to suggest thrips until I saw the leaves. I would test for virus ASAP.

estación seca very interested! How would you test for the virus?

silken · #5 02-06-2016, 11:01 AM

You can buy virus test strips from Agdia in the U.S. In Canada they run about $8.00 per test which includes the strip and shipping etc. Yours might be a couple dollars less. They test for both Cymbidium Mosaic Virus and Odontoglossom Ringspot Virus on the same strip. Both very common and some of the worst viruses and the ones often found in Catts. One of them causes the colour break in petals much like what you have. That and the spotted leaves and the deformity point to possible virus. Sometimes my most healthy looking plant has tested positive for this as well, so it is deceiving.

You can get smaller packs of 5 or 10 strips or packs of 25 I believe. At least here in Canada. Shipping is the same and expensive as they Fedex it overnight because it should not be frozen or over heated. They have a best before date-usually close to a year and should be kept in the fridge. I always go for the large pack to make it more economical and try and get a friend to split them with.

If you can easily replace this plant, it might be easier to just do that. But you might want to test other orchids too so then buying a few strips is not too bad an investment. Good luck, hope it is negative.

Cym Ladye · #6 02-06-2016, 04:33 PM

With the color break and the leaf patterning, it looks like virus to me even without testing. Toss it - pot, label and all.

Harris E. · #7 02-08-2016, 05:34 PM

It's gone. Thanks for the advice everybody.

silken · #8 02-08-2016, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harris E.

It's gone. Thanks for the advice everybody.

Sorry such a pretty bloom had to be tossed. Hope you can replace it.

gngrhill · #9 02-09-2016, 12:31 AM

I just got test strips from them a week ago (USA) and it was $50 for 5 tests and $15 to ship.

silken · #10 02-09-2016, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gngrhill

I just got test strips from them a week ago (USA) and it was $50 for 5 tests and $15 to ship.

Maybe the price has gone up. But I do find it less expensive to buy the pack of 25. I think they are less per strip and the same price to ship because the package size isn't any different other than a few grams heavier. I assume you got the combo test strip for ORSV and CMV? I just got some about 6 months ago and it worked out to $8.00 per test and we pay an import fee as well since I am in Canada and have to order from a Canadian lab that gets them from Agdia in the U.S.

I can't afford to test all my orchids but I test any that haven't bloomed in a few years and I feel should have, or that grow poorly or look real bad. I am sometimes surprised that the clean leafed healthy growers that don't bloom have virus. And sometimes the ones with spots or bad marks are negative. Those may have fungal or bacterial infection instead. So looks aren't always a clue. But the colour break in blooms has always resulted in a positive test for me.