/ Register

Welcome to OrchidsForum.com. We are a friendly online community for Orchid Growers all over the world. If you haven't joined yet we invite you to register and join our community. Hope to see you on our forums!

What is wrong with this orchid?

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by Selmo, Nov 20, 2015.

  1. Nov 20, 2015 #1
    Selmo

    Selmo Active Member

    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    86
    Location:
    West Central Missouri
    Sorry about that. I got this orchid at an estate sale of Vivion and Clifford Walters (Vicli Orchids) about six or seven years ago. It has tried to bloom the last four years. It will grow a spike but never make it to flower. The spike seems to stop growing, dry up, and shrivel. This year t finally made it to flower, but the flower seems to be miss shapen, patchy and small. I believe it to be Onc. Gower Ramsey or some sort of cross using it. I know that Vicli did their own breeding. Could this be a cull or a bad cross. Or is this environmental. ImageUploadedByOrchidsForum.com1448036586.502153.jpg ImageUploadedByOrchidsForum.com1448036607.654118.jpg ImageUploadedByOrchidsForum.com1448036622.317259.jpg It does grow OK and produce flower spikes what is wrong?
     
  2. Nov 20, 2015 #2
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,779
    Likes Received:
    3,577
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    I would be suspect of the plant. It is hard to see in the images, but it looks as if you have some mosaic patterning in some of the leaves where you have patches of lighter tissue among the darker and could be a symptom of virus. A plant can bloom poorly if it is virused, but it can also bloom very well, so that in itself is not a sign. If you can test for virus that would be a good idea.

    Selmo, I deleted the other thread you started since this is the one with the images.
     
  3. Nov 21, 2015 #3
    Selmo

    Selmo Active Member

    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    86
    Location:
    West Central Missouri
    Thank you, hopefully it is not virused. Should it be removed? Is it contagious to the orchids?
     
  4. Nov 21, 2015 #4
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,779
    Likes Received:
    3,577
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Yes, a virused plant can infect others under certain circumstances. If you use a tool (or hand or fingernails) to cut a virused plant and then use that tool on a clean one, the virus will be spread. If you get have soft leaved plants where the leaves are touching/rubbing another plant and the plant liquid gets transferred from one to the other, you have virus spread. Some virus is spread by sucking/chewing insects that go from plant to plant. Some say that water falling from a virused plant to and clean plant can spread it. It is best to isolate a suspected plant to prevent contamination of other plants in the collection. Also, only use sterile tools when working with plants.
     
  5. Nov 21, 2015 #5
    Selmo

    Selmo Active Member

    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    86
    Location:
    West Central Missouri
    Thank you again Marni. I do sterilize my tools with alcohol every time I use them. One time I did not sterilize the snips and I lost all the divisions to disease. Learned my lesson. I am freaking out. I have had this plant around all the others for the past six or seven years. And was out in the greenhouse eyeing every plant, wondering are you diseased. Most look OK but I will be on guard. Thanks again
     
  6. Nov 21, 2015 #6
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,779
    Likes Received:
    3,577
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Alcohol does not sterilize sufficiently. Tools should be flamed with a torch, not a gas flame or a lighter. If you use razor blades and want to reuse them, you can bake them in an oven for an hour at a temperture over 250F. You might consider sending some samples to Critter Creek or buying test strips from Agdia to be sure.
     
  7. Nov 21, 2015 #7
    Selmo

    Selmo Active Member

    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    86
    Location:
    West Central Missouri
    Flame torch? Do you mean a propane torch or burner used for things like soddering. I do have one of these. I did look online for agdia cymMV and ORSV immunostrips for orchids. Are these the best and/or the only do it at home tests for orchid viruses. Thank you again for all information
     
  8. Nov 21, 2015 #8
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    13,779
    Likes Received:
    3,577
    Location:
    Santa Rosa, CA
    Yes, I meant a propane (or butane) torch.