Bllra. Tahoma Glacier with Terrible Leaves

[Subrosa]

I agree with Ray that it has the look of spider mite damage, possibly compounded by a fungal condition.

[WaterWitchin]

Y'all this Physan 20 is okay? I've only used a fungicide once or twice on an orchid.

Yes, I see the look of spider mites, but never have found any. Should I give them a treatment regardless? Poison of choice? Like pick yer poison, Pilgrim?

[Roberta]

I use Physan on orchids, doesn't seem to do any harm. (How much good it does not sure either) It works on algae, like cleaning up the greenhouse floor.

[Ray]

Physan is a topical treatment only, so will not affect internal infections.

[Roberta]

If your want to rule out virus, might be worth getting the plants tested... Critter Creek Laboratories is not terribly expensive (cost is actually about the same as the Agdia test kits, you just have to wait a bit for the results)

[WaterWitchin]

Nah, I would trash em if it’s a virus. So a systematic fungicide recommendation please?

[Roberta]

But how to tell if something is a virus without testing? One of the San Diego County OS members, who has done a lot of work with virus testing, did a "virus identification study", showing photographs to a number of very knowledgeable people, to guess which had virus and which didn't (flowers and/or leaves). The results for successful guesses? What would be expected by chance, or a bit worse. There are makings that look like virus on plants that aren't, and clean-looking plants that that have it.

The takeaway... if a plant isn't doing well and it's not deeply loved, not worth fighting for it. If it is something you care about, do your best by it and follow good hygiene practices. And do the same with everything... because some virused plants will show no sign but be capable of infecting something else.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Nah, I would trash em if it’s a virus. So a systematic fungicide recommendation please?

Inocucor

[WaterWitchin]

I can rebuy these orchids cheaper than most anything. I just like them and don’t wanna trash if I can easily cure. Perhaps that’s my answer.

---------- Post added at 04:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:28 PM ----------

I can barely afford Innocur as a preventative. No offense, it’s just not affordable to me as a cure. I surely do appreciate y’alls input. I’ve never seen anything like it. I reached out for much more expertise than I have.

All, thank you very much for the input. I asked, y’all responded with your best. Will let ya know what I decide. Kudos to all who took the time to respond.

[SouthPark]

Waterwitchin - could try agri-fos systematic. It's along the same lines as yates anti-rot phosacid. Around 18 to 19 dollars.

Even if this isn't the treatment for the cause of this, it'll be excellent to have this sort of systematic fungicide in the kit. That's if you haven't got this one already.