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New growth bud ends dropping off on cattleya

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by lizztwozee, Nov 23, 2020.

  1. Nov 23, 2020 #1
    lizztwozee

    lizztwozee New Member

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    Hello, orchid experts! This usually very happy Lc. Gold Digger, "Buttercup" orchid is dropping its new growth heads, which contain the pre-bud growths (my non-expert term!). Help! This guy spent a very happy summer outside under a tree in SE Wisconsin, where we had a nice mild summer. I don't see any evidence of pests or rot--see photos. Any thoughts? 126492517_680487342652756_3495251327004130337_n.jpg 127053317_185469546493379_1803497038290723342_n.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2020
  2. Nov 24, 2020 #2
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    That looks to me like they were physically broken off.
     
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  3. Nov 25, 2020 #3
    lizztwozee

    lizztwozee New Member

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    Nope—it fell off, as did the one which has a dried black end. I heard a little “splat!” on the tiles—there are two ends which have dropped off, and they’re both new growths.
     
  4. Nov 25, 2020 #4
    Arne

    Arne Active Member

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    Even if the growth in the picture at the top has somewhat of a dark outer ring, it looks like a cut asparagus. Just based on these pictures, there must have been some previous force or physical stress.
     
  5. Nov 26, 2020 #5
    lizztwozee

    lizztwozee New Member

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    OK, this is happening again! Here's a clear shot of some necrosis going on . . . and it's only affecting the buds. Fungus??!
     

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  6. Dec 1, 2020 #6
    Selmo

    Selmo Active Member

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    Not a fungus, I’d say some kind of cutworm or some other caterpillar that is girdling the stem
     
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  7. Dec 2, 2020 #7
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    I hadn’t even considered that, but I’ll bet you’re right!

    if that’s the case, I suspect a BT product will take care of it.
     
  8. Dec 19, 2020 #8
    Selmo

    Selmo Active Member

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    Lizztwozee, have you had any results with bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)?
    By your photos and what you wrote, I would suppose that you probably had a moth lay eggs in your plant back in the summer. Those eggs then hatched and started munching your plants and causing your problems. By the looks of the marks, these caterpillars are probably fairly small, 1/4” or less, and probably come out a night. Making them hard to spot and identify.
    Bt is very good on Lepidoptera, which is most caterpillars, it is a biological pesticide that caterpillars eat causing stomach problems which kills them.
    Hopefully, this mystery is cleared up now. This is one of the problems with growing outdoors, dealing with insects. Best of luck and happy holidays
     
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