black spots yikes !

[redheedgeek]

My new cattleya has some black spots starting on the onion like skin below the leaf formation. it doesn't appear to have gone any further , and I would like to stop it asap! any ideas? I'll try and post a pic of the offending spots just not sure where they will end up on this forum .
jimmy

[redheedgeek]

Ok I was able to up load to the photo gallery under pests and diseases see if you can help me please

Thanks So Much

jimmy

[kmarch]

It's nothing to worry about. Those sheaths protect the new growth as it grows but once the new growth is mature they serve no further purpose so they die off. This is a perfectly ordinary, normal part of the growth cycle. I don't see anything that looks like a pest or disease.

Good news!

[Myxamatosis]

Originally Posted by kmarch

It's nothing to worry about. Those sheaths protect the new growth as it grows but once the new growth is mature they serve no further purpose so they die off. This is a perfectly ordinary, normal part of the growth cycle. I don't see anything that looks like a pest or disease.

Good news!

Naively I see this as a bacterial culture. Is it actually just the pattern of their decay, or bacteria 'eating' the sheath? if it is bacteria, why is this not harmful to the plant?

[redheedgeek]

Thanks again your always quick to help me and its a relief to hear the good news

[brookn]

Mostly I think this is the pattern of decay, although if I have sheaths that are doing this it is usually when there is water that has been trapped in there. I remove the sheaths carefully if I see this happening.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Myxamatosis

Naively I see this as a bacterial culture. Is it actually just the pattern of their decay, or bacteria 'eating' the sheath? if it is bacteria, why is this not harmful to the plant?

I don't know specifically, biologically what is happening to create the small spots but I can say it is completely typical and ordinary and is not a danger to the health of the plant. I have seen this on dozens and dozens of perfectly healthy plants. Not all bacterias are harmful.

[redheedgeek]

brookn do you have any advice on removing the sheaths how do I make the first attempt little concerned I might damage the plants healthy
stem maybe some pro tweezers or the like I'm sure to damage with my bare hands and won't even a small scratch be open to disease and fungal problems

jimmy

[Brooke]

Jimmy wet the tissue covering with water or a light soap/water spray/dip/sponge on. When the covering is wet, it will peel right off.

Be careful when you reach the base where the dormant eyes will be and make sure you pull gently on the totally saturated material.

It is always good to remove this tissue since this is a favorite hiding place of many pests.

Brooke with the e, not Brookn with the n