What is this on my leaves?

[DavidCampen]

I use a 1% solution of Physan 20 to sterilize my tools. I keep it in a wide mouth kitchen jar that has plastic ring on the stopper for friction fit. I keep the jar on my bench. I have several of each cutting tool so that after I use one I can wipe it off with Physan solution and then leave it sitting in the jar of Physan solution.
Physan 20

You can also use it too clean your hands and wipe down the surface of your bench.

The active ingredient is the same as is used in topical antiseptics and hand wipes.
Benzalkonium chloride - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[orchids3]

Agree with the sanitation suggestions and isolating the plant but that just could be from crushing and mechanical damage to the leaves. Isolate the plant and wait for new growth - if the new growth is the same -toss the plant.

[Wynn Dee13]

You really can't tell for sure if it's a virus unless you get it tested. A lot of things can look like a virus that arn't. I wonder how many plants have been thrown out because they are thought to have a virus but it really is something else. I try not to rush to judgement and just sterilize my tools.

Also, alcohol doesn't kill viruses. I thought it did too but found out it doesn't. So now I use a bleach solution. I didn't know Physan worked. I think I will switch to that cause bleach is corrosive and has ruined some of my tools.

Good luck with your plant!

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by Wynn Dee13

...
Also, alcohol doesn't kill viruses. I thought it did too but found out it doesn't. So now I use a bleach solution. I didn't know Physan worked. I think I will switch to that cause bleach is corrosive and has ruined some of my tools.

Good luck with your plant!

Bleach is much more effective than Physan but as you say, it ruins tools. So I use a combination of mechanical cleaning plus physan on non-disposable tools like clippers - wipe the tool with a wipe wet with Physan solution, let the tool soak in Physan solution and then wipe it again with a clean rag.

[DavidCampen]

On further research I have to conclude that Physan is likely not capable of destroying most plant viruses.

I am going to have to rethink my tool (clippers) cleaning strategy. Hypochlorite is effective but it is corrosive to metal. Formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are effective but they are nasty smelling and just generally nasty. Chlorine dioxide solutions are effective but are rapidly destroyed by sunlight. Alcohols are not very effective. I may have to start flaming my tools. I wonder if an alcohol lamp would be sufficient for flaming my clippers?

[Paul Mc]

What do you think about turning the oven flame to high and putting the blades over that?

[Gage]

That looks like the leaves were broken from mishandling.

[BruceP]

Originally Posted by Gage

That looks like the leaves were broken from mishandling.

I'm of the same opinion. Personally, I would ignore it and wait to see if new leaves come out OK.

[Wynn Dee13]

Originally Posted by DavidCampen

On further research I have to conclude that Physan is likely not capable of destroying most plant viruses.

I am going to have to rethink my tool (clippers) cleaning strategy. Hypochlorite is effective but it is corrosive to metal. Formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde are effective but they are nasty smelling and just generally nasty. Chlorine dioxide solutions are effective but are rapidly destroyed by sunlight. Alcohols are not very effective. I may have to start flaming my tools. I wonder if an alcohol lamp would be sufficient for flaming my clippers?

I guess I will be staying with bleach for now. As long as you don't keep your tools in the bleach for a long time ( like over night) and you rinse them off they do okay. I made the mistake of keeping them in over night and they were ruined.

I also think the leaves could be like that because of something like mishandling. I would wait and see too. No need to throw it out if it just got a little banged up.

You could also buy some test strips or send it out to be tested. Also not all virus infected plants show symptoms. Some don't at all. Who knows how many plants in a collection carry a virus. You wouldn't know unless you tested every plant.

[Paul Mc]

Noted everyone. Thank you for the information and encouragement. I absolutely love the red flowers on this one. I'd hate to pitch it.

However, I've watched the symptoms slowly move to almost half of the leaves. I'm still watching to see if it progresses, but I would not think mishandling would cause the same lines on all of the affected leaves. When I got it, there were a few questionable ones, but it seemed to spread.

Still watching and waiting, lol...