Bud Blast?

[winky]

I've been waiting for this orchid to open its buds for two weeks now and this seems to be it. It is labeled Colmanara Wildcat "Yellow Butterfly".
Is this some sort of bud blast or could this be a mislabeled orchid of some sort.
I know the pics are terrible but the auto-focus camera is having trouble focusing on the orchid and not the background. None of the usual tricks seem to be working.

[Anton]

Have you tried standing back a bit and using the zoom to focus in ?

Alternatively, take the plant outside at night time and photograph it, then you will have a jet black background, forcing the camera to only focus on the plant, possibly using the technique described above.

Have a look at the thread entitled "Photography 101" by yours truly, I have an example there.

[mayres]

The leaves look correct for a colmanara. Are you giving it plenty of water and humidity? Looks like the pseudobulbs could be rather wrinkled? I have several varieties of these and they grow like weeds and bloom without fail twice a year! mike

[winky]

I think that the black background helped. Thanks Anton. These aren't perfect but good enough to see.

[winky]

I've got a number of comanaras growing side by side with this one and none of them have ever done this. I just started keeping records so I'm not sure how long I've had this one but it isn't a very recent purchase. I don't think it has ever bloomed for me.

[kmarch]

Winky,

The clear pictures are a big help. So let me see if I have the details correct:
1) this is the first time the plant has bloomed for you.
2) you've probably had the plant for a few years
3) this plant is grown along side normally blooming plants

My first inclination is to suspect some sort of genetic defect. I notice that all the visible bud/flowers cary the same mutation. Is this so for the whole plant? Are there any normal flowers on this plant? Herbicides and other chemicals can cause mutations in orchids but I think that is not likely to be the case here since plants next to this one are blooming normally. If I'm right and the defect is genetic, the plant will probably do this each time it blooms. If it something cultural/environmental it could bloom normally next year. I'd document (with pics and perhaps a pressed flower or two) the mutation and wait until the next time it blooms. Compare the results. If the second blooming is mutated like the first, it'd be safe to say you've got a genetic thing going on there. Is this plant a mericlone? Sometimes clones of clones get made and the genetic pattern gets .... corrupted ... kind of like when you make a photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy. There's a clever si-fi sounding name for this, something like "genetic drift" or "clonal drift" or something like that (I can't remember exactly what they call it). That could be one potential cause for a genetic mutation.

-K

[winky]

Right on all accounts. There are no normal flowers on the plant which carries only one flower stem. All the flowers are opening normally and the insides seem to carry the yellow and mahogany combination of "Yellow butterfly" but only on the top petal. The rest of the petals and the lip seem to be absent or warped.
The tag besides the name: C/S/F-031405 Batch 677-04
It doesn't indicate that it is a mericlone unless some of that tells someone who knows how to read tags otherwise.
I've heard of genetic drift but this is more like a tidal wave.
I do spray all of my plants with Orthene, which is a systemic, to control mealy bug.
I have one other plant, a Dendrobium nobile?, that has produced odd shaped flowers but no one has suggested that it is a mutation. No one could identify it positively either. I found this forum trying to identify that plant. I'm glad I did. It is really helpful to be able to tap into everyone's experience. Thanks all.

[kmarch]

Hi Winky,

As the name of the plant is Colmanara Wildcat 'Yellow Butterfly', it's probably safe to say it is a mericlone. Clonal names (in this case the 'Yellow Butterfly' part of the name) are given to awarded plants to distinguish between them and other plants of the same cross. Awarded plants are often mericloned in large numbers for retail sale. Tags will not say "mericlone" or anything like that.

Because all of the flowers on the one plant are mutated in the exact same way, and because your other Orthene-sprayed plants are not mutated i'm inclined to think genetically. Colm. Wildcat is a prolific bloomer and can bloom 2 or more times a year. Lets see what happens next time it blooms.

Anyone else have any other thoughts?

[jerrymeola]

I have these kind of flowers when a plant is damaged from a number of reasons. Cold being common (heat less so) spider mites and other sucking insects. Aggressive insecticides (even though others are find this plant could be just more sensitive to the insecticide.

I have a Den C.I. Ak hybrid that flowered perfectly for years and the last two years some good sprays (before heat sets in) and bad after. I used to have good blooms for 8 months. I am concentrating on lack of water (I re-potted as it was terribly pot bond and switched to Worm Tea to control insects. It should start blooming in April (always good) and then continuing to September. I will post the results this fall.

[winky]

Thanks all, I'll keep it away from sprays until it blooms again.
The thermostat in the greenhouse is set for 65 degree. I checked the thermometer and it is saying a maximum of 86 degrees and a minimum of 42 degrees. I really doubt that last figure as I have house plants in there that would not tolerated 42 degree temperatures. The heating is hooked to our house furnace. I think maybe when the vent opens the thermometer gets a blast as it is hung from the caged fan half way to the ceiling. Or something.

[winky]

OK, I lied. It took forever but that flower did open further. Here is what I got. It still isn't a Colmanara 'Yellow Butterfly' is it? So does this change anyone's opinion.