Help! Fear virus in orchid from Akatsuka Orchids; Coelogyne Usitana

[Roberta]

Another note about this species... the photo doesn't show it well but it looks like you may have a spike or two. This species is a sequential bloomer... a spike may pop out flowers for several years. So if you get a flower, when it drops don't cut the spike! I have seen them with very long spike, flower at the tip. When it gets to that point it has to hang to let the flower droop. (Another hint, don't try to stake the inflorescence, it wants to be pendant)

[desirue]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Where have I seen this?

My Coelogyne also develops things like that. When I first noticed I treated with fungicides and all that sort of treatments...I also considered mites and treated it accordingly...then I gave up, until today.
I would't worry too much about it unless I see the plant going really down.

I think I immediately jumped to "virus" because I had just read ( I think I was consciously reading, I may have been dreaming about reading about it, lol! It was a serious Matrix moment ) about an hours worth of articles describing different virus', fungus & pest problems, etc. and it seemed like the logical conclusion at the time. My biggest fear is my orchid collection being wiped out because of a virus

---------- Post added at 02:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:28 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Roberta

Another note about this species... the photo doesn't show it well but it looks like you may have a spike or two. This species is a sequential bloomer... a spike may pop out flowers for several years. So if you get a flower, when it drops don't cut the spike! I have seen them with very long spike, flower at the tip. When it gets to that point it has to hang to let the flower droop. (Another hint, don't try to stake the inflorescence, it wants to be pendant)

It does currently have a bud I'm really anxious to see this bloom. I've wanted this particular orchid for awhile, so when I found an online nursery with it available, I jumped at the chance to purchase. I think that's also why I was so disheartened to see the spotting. I'll attach a better picture of the spike for you ...

[Roberta]

If you are concerned about virus, you need to invest in some test kits (Agdia is in the US, they are readily available) That is the only way that you can diagnose virus. They also have a testing service (I think they bought Critter Creek, which was a great lab, site no longer exists, search gets referred to Agdia) Personally, I test on suspicion, such as a "failure to thrive" situation, or color break in flowers. Too many to test everything, have had very few problems. If I were doing a lot of growing in a confined indoor space I'd probably worry more. If your plants aren't jammed together, and you practice good hygiene, you're likely quite safe from spread. But to repeat for emphasis, testing is the ONLY way that you can diagnose virus with any certainty.

[desirue]

Roberta, I attached some pictures of the spike/bloom for you

[desirue]

Originally Posted by Roberta

If you are concerned about virus, you need to invest in some test kits (Agdia is in the US, they are readily available) That is the only way that you can diagnose virus. They also have a testing service (I think they bought Critter Creek, which was a great lab, site no longer exists, search gets referred to Agdia) Personally, I test on suspicion, such as a "failure to thrive" situation, or color break in flowers. Too many to test everything, have had very few problems. If I were doing a lot of growing in a confined indoor space I'd probably worry more. If your plants aren't jammed together, and you practice good hygiene, you're likely quite safe from spread. But to repeat for emphasis, testing is the ONLY way that you can diagnose virus with any certainty.

My plants are close, but not too close. I make sure that their leaves don't touch. And I always sanitize my tools after repotting or any kind of maintenance and I don't ever share water between them. I water them one by one. I may look into Agdia in the future and maybe buy a test kit down the road if I ever feel like it's urgently warranted.

[Roberta]

Nice! When you see new growth, you might take that opportunity to repot into a basket so that you can hang it. (When you do, do as little disturbance as possible to roots since it will still have a spike) Or you can place the existing pot into a basket for hanging purposes. It does want to be on the damp side. But it's when the spike gets long that it's spectacular - the flower floats on a very thin spike, magic.

[desirue]

Thought I'd give an update on this orchid. The leaf spotting has gotten increasingly bigger. The bud seems to be moving right along though. There does seem to be a darkening though on it; you can see it in the pictures. Is that normal? I haven't done anything different to this plant since I posted about it. Haven't treated it with anything, have only been watering as needed and leaving alone.

[desirue]

Pics ...

[Roberta]

I would suggest removing the leaves with the damage - it looks like you have one or more good, clean leaves so the plant will be OK.

I would suspect some sort of a fungal infection. I have no experience with those, so I leave it to other members of the Board to jump in with suggestions on treating adjoining clean leaves to prevent spread.

[desirue]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I would suggest removing the leaves with the damage - it looks like you have one or more good, clean leaves so the plant will be OK.

Thanks Roberta for checking out the pics, I appreciate it. I'll plan on cutting the leaf off tonight.

The two other leaves look okay; there's very mild spotting on one of the other leaves, but it's been like that since I got it and it hasn't spread since, unlike the leaf in question.