Any chance this is not a virus?

[Claire25]

Hi there,
My Slc. Puppy Candy 'Puppy Love' has just bloomed with a severely abnormal flower. It hasn't opened fully yet, but a couple of the flower parts are misshapen and (worst of all) it has the "color break" symptoms that are supposed to be clear indicators of virus. I have other orchids, and though I'm always careful when watering/re-potting I know I should probably just throw this one away. The problem is that this plant was one of two orchids that my husband gave me as a wedding present last June. I will post a pic as soon as I can, but basically it looks just as I've described. Can someone offer me some words of hope? It has been growing right next to a south-facing window which gets a little chilly at night right next to the glass (probably mid 50s b/c ambient nighttime room temp is in low 60s), and it has two more buds that should open in a couple weeks. I have it in a warmer spot now...if the new flowers look "ok," then could it just have been exposure to chilly temps that caused the damage? Thanks for any words of advice (or consolation).
Claire

[Ray]

I won't claim to be an expert, but color break usually equates to a virus, alright.

[Claire25]

Thanks, Ray. I guess I have a hard decision to make about this plant...and since my husband bought the other one (which hasn't bloomed yet) from the same vendor I'm very concerned that it could be infected too...

[WhiteRabbit]

Post pix before you take any drastic measures. Also there are virus tests available for purchase

[Claire25]

Here's a pic:

[dounoharm]

mechanical damage to the growing psuedobulb can also cause that sort of damage, as can the cold...as can insecticidal burn or any chemical burn.....i wouldnt rush to decision....particularly since the plant itself shows no sign of virus, wait and see what the other blooms look like....but isolate the plant.....

[Des]

I agree , isolate the plant and wait for it to flower next year . Have you been spraying the plant with a systemic insecticide as that can cause the problem you have now.

[camille1585]

or for an immediate answer, get a virus testing kit. They usually work for CMV and ORSV, the two most common orchid viruses.

[Roy]

I'm not sure if everyone is just looking at the white sections on the flower but if you look & you don't have to do it too closely, you will see DARK color breaks in what appear to be good segments. The plants is FULL of virus, typical for a Cattleya. The plant should be returned to the supplier or BURNT very quickly. Sorry to say be there is a 99% chance the other plant from the same supplier will be affected also.

[Claire25]

Thank you all for the replies. Des and Dounoharm--I haven't used any pesticides on it whatsoever...whatever it is, it's not due to that. (I wish it were). I guess it's fairly safe now, quarantined as it is away from my other plants. But, certainly, a virus test kit is in my future. (More for the other plant than for this one; sadly it seems pretty likely this one's a goner--I will probably follow Roy's advice soon). This is one of the only "mature" size Catts I've ever acquired, since for space and money reasons I usually start with seedlings. I guess the older the plant, the more chance of an infection...it's just really upsetting, since it seems like this plant is so badly virused, and it was a wedding present to boot...<sigh>