Phalaenopsis Experiment

[butterfly_muse]

Hahahahahaha, that's like how I use wine in my cooking <____<

[james mickelso]

Viruses are passed around many different ways. Unsterilized tools, and bugs are the most common. Water is a great way for viruses to get from one orchid to another also. But again it isn't that easy for it to happen.

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

Viruses are passed around many different ways. Unsterilized tools, and bugs are the most common. Water is a great way for viruses to get from one orchid to another also. But again it isn't that easy for it to happen.

If I water them all with misting and they drip on each other will that do it? o_O

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[james mickelso]

Only if that drip gets into an open wound and then even that isn't a sure thing.

[butterfly_muse]

Okay, I feel slightly better now. I have only gotten Phals from big box stores, as I am brand new to the hobby and want to make sure I can keep them alive and encourage them to flower again before I get serious about them. That, plus I'm still in college so I need a big girl job and a house with more space would be preferable too. Ha!

So reading that just made me really paranoid that I've only gotten horrible virused ones or something. <_<

[escualida]

Originally Posted by butterfly_muse

Okay, I feel slightly better now. I have only gotten Phals from big box stores, as I am brand new to the hobby and want to make sure I can keep them alive and encourage them to flower again before I get serious about them. That, plus I'm still in college so I need a big girl job and a house with more space would be preferable too. Ha!

So reading that just made me really paranoid that I've only gotten horrible virused ones or something. <_<

Viruses in phals are really common, I've gotten several from so called "reputable" sellers at steep prices, so just be careful when handling them.

[butterfly_muse]

So what do you do? How are you supposed to recognize that a plant is virused if it doesn't show any signs or symptoms of it?

[escualida]

I get all of my phals tested. I used to get all of my orchids tested but I have a lot more now and in the past have only found viruses on phals and one miltonia. So because I can't really afford to have them all tested right now I've only been doing the phals. I will do so in the future when I can afford it though.

I get them tested right when they arrive, otherwise some sellers won't let you get a refund (some won't let you regardless). I send them directly to Critter Creek, their tests run about the same price as the home kits and the vendors don't argue with their results. If any of them come up virused I let the vendor know. Some of them ask you to return the plant, some give you a refund without having to return it, and some are d***s and don't do anything. When I come across a seller like that I don't do business with them anymore.

I usually toss the ones that come up virused with only a few exceptions - when there is one that I truly, truly love I try to self pollinate it. I'm hoping to breed phals in the future and there are some that I would love to cross, but not when they are virused. With dry seed you have a very low chance of passing the virus onto the seedlings. I have one seed pod that is maturing right now on a phal that has both ORSV and CymMV. It's taken a real toll on the plant but I'm hoping to get some seedlings from it and when I do, I'm throwing it away. Until then it stays very far away from the rest of my collection and I'm super careful after handling it.

Does that answer your question?

[butterfly_muse]

Yep, for the most part. I guess I'm just not that advanced yet. Right now my focus is learning how to grow them successfully. I just began the hobby back in February, so...

[jeremyinsf]

As I'm reminded sometimes:

"Relax and have fun".