Help-- Virused Orchid Questions

[BKirk783]

I found out today that I have four that are virused and will be going away. I don't think they were in direct contact with any of my other plants, though 1 Catt was on a table with some others. I think I'm going to get rid of some that are suspicious and maybe retest everything in late winter. Does anyone have any experience with Orchid viruses? I sterilize my pots and flame my pruning scissors before and after every use. Is there anything else I should be doing? I would be interested to hear your thoughts.

[bench72]

*bump*

Hi Brandon, generally, if a plant tests positive to a Virus I chuck it out in the rubbish bin. It's too much of a risk for the rest of the collection and knowing my habits, I sometimes wil handle plants and pull off a dead leaf and then to the next one.... so better to take these types of precautions.

cheers
tim

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Hi Brandon, sorry this happened. I think Tim is on the right track here. I know how horrible it sounds, but if you want to protect the rest of your collection, remove the virused orchid. If you can grow it in a completely different location using different tools to care for it, maybe you could keep it, but you run the risk of spreading the virus to the others in your collection. Good luck!

Cheers,
BD

[BKirk783]

Thanks for your reply. The virused orchids are already gone for the reasons you mentioned. So far I've had 5 test + for CymMV and all have been disposed of (pots and all). I hated to lose them but none have been terribly productive, probably because of the virus.

[bench72]

yeah, sometimes that space is better off used by a plant that will provide a nice display!