When I received this cutting, it had some pretty deep notches in it, and we weren't sure what those were from, but the new growth looked good so we didn't worry about it. Now, it appears that new growth has some pretty nasty looking purple spots which concern me. This is my only epi doing this, and I've just moved it away from the others in case it is a virus which will spread. Anyone seen this before?
Here is another picture:
This is the original cutting:
Here's the whole plant:
Hmm, I have seen plenty chewed, mangled, broken, sunburned, but this is a bit different. I don't know.
Wow, that's nasty looking. I had a few ugly spots when I first put mine out this past spring, but I think it was from the trees. It went away.
Thanks, Ursula and Darius. I don't know either. I'm wondering if it isn't a fungus or a virus. I might try spraying with Neem Oil, a natural fungicide. I'll keep it isolated from the other epi's in case it wants to spread. That would be ugly. I may even move it to the front of the house and well away from the others.
I decided to toss this plant today. At first, I was just going to cut off all of the affected tissue, but the entire plant has this with the exception of one very new leaf. I decided it is not worth the risk to see if it is a virus or a fungus because either one has the potential to spread to my other plants.
I agree. Good decision.
Thanks, Darius:-)
Clare
That reminds me of a tobacco mosiac. That virus can effect a lot of different plants from veggies to flowering plants. I know it can mess up hoyas so I bet epi's might be susceptible to it. I think it was a wise choice to ditch the plant. Here is a link to the virus.
Karen
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/tomtotmv.htm
Thanks, Karen, and thanks for the link. I think you are right. I've had a problem with my brugmansias being infected with a virus so it doesn't surprise me at all if this is a virus as well. Thanks for your help.
Calre I think you did the right thing on this one......just not worth it to keep it around and take the chance.
I can't seem to find the post right now, but was it you that showed your holiday cactus whose leaves had all turned a dark burgandy red and were fairly limp in relation to others? I used to have a link that described that red leaf condition as a virus also. Will continue to search for that link, but the advice was to immediately dispose of the entire plant in the refuse bin and not in the compost pile. There is a "Schlumbergera" virus, but can't remember if that and the red-leaf syndrome were the same thing.
I'll keep looking for the details......
Hi Candy and thanks. I agree with you. It's just not worth the chance. The original cutting didn't look healthy so that should have been my first clue, but I thought that new growth would be unscathed, and it was for a while, but then the purple spots appeared all over.
It wasn't me with the burgandy red leaves that were limp, but I remember seeing that. One of my Thanksgiving Cactus plants does have red leaves, but they are very plump and healthy-looking, but they are outside all year so I think the sun and the cold has turned them that color, but they are healthy. In this type of climate though, viruses seem to be plentiful and deadly...to plants, that is.
HI FROM Jackson Ga.
Burn Your Plant, Bleach Your Pot's and all area around them!
You Can Never Save Them! Been Dealing with it near Firty Years! Bad Dude! As a Grower, you know, you should have already put it down. Any spread to NEW SPROUT'S is Death to the Plant. Take no Chances and save time and trouble. Good Luck. ~OldNDN
PS. WE HAVE GROWN MORE THAN 200,000 and we know!
The Red Color in plants is from the SUN, so do not worry, all is OK. Unless, limp soft tissue!
This message was edited Nov 4, 2005 10:57 PM
Thanks, OldNDN. The one with the purple spots is long gone, and I do bleach my pots before reusing them, and I am not worried about the red color of my epi leaves, but thanks for your help;-)
