Phalaenopsis Experiment

[Nanook 2010]

Originally Posted by 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?

Uh......wow!
I guess any hobby can be taken to extremes
Sending a sample to California to check for virus.....what a hassle

Buy a plant....take a chance....watch your orchid thrive

Squeeze the juice out of life

[james mickelso]

But escualido grows for a purpose and that purpose would be jeopardized if a virus got into his collection. So testing is a must in those circumstances. But for a hobbiest like me and countless others it is not necessary.

[escualida]

Originally Posted by james mickelso

But escualido grows for a purpose and that purpose would be jeopardized if a virus got into his collection. So testing is a must in those circumstances. But for a hobbiest like me and countless others it is not necessary.

I'm a girl. And you're right it's not necessary for everyone to get their orchids tested and I wasn't suggesting that, I was just asked how I know when there's a virus and that's the only sure way to know.

I do, however, think it's necessary for everyone to take simple precautions to prevent the spread of viruses. Especially if you someday decide to give some of your plants away to make room or as gifts.

---------- Post added at 11:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

Uh......wow!
I guess any hobby can be taken to extremes
Sending a sample to California to check for virus.....what a hassle

Not really, all you have to do is cut off a piece of a leaf, put it in a baggie, and ship it off in a padded envelope. It doesn't cost that much and for me, it's worth it. I've been able to get refunds from virused plants, meaning I've saved more than I've spent on the testing. Some vendors will even reimburse the cost of the testing for the plants that came up virused.

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

Buy a plant....take a chance....watch your orchid thrive

Squeeze the juice out of life

I do that anyway, just because I try to keep my collection virus free doesn't mean that I don't enjoy it as much, if not more, than you guys.

[james mickelso]

Ah yes. I should have noticed the spelling. Very myopic of me. I enjoy your threads and answers. May the gods of orchids bless you.

[Nanook 2010]

Originally Posted by escualida

I'm a girl. And you're right it's not necessary for everyone to get their orchids tested and I wasn't suggesting that, I was just asked how I know when there's a virus and that's the only sure way to know.

I do, however, think it's necessary for everyone to take simple precautions to prevent the spread of viruses. Especially if you someday decide to give some of your plants away to make room or as gifts.

---------- Post added at 11:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 PM ----------



Not really, all you have to do is cut off a piece of a leaf, put it in a baggie, and ship it off in a padded envelope. It doesn't cost that much and for me, it's worth it. I've been able to get refunds from virused plants, meaning I've saved more than I've spent on the testing. Some vendors will even reimburse the cost of the testing for the plants that came up virused.

I do that anyway, just because I try to keep my collection virus free doesn't mean that I don't enjoy it as much, if not more, than you guys.

Sounds awesome!

My entire point of the experiment was to show how stress free and carefree orchid growing can be.

If you want to take the time to :
1. Drive to orchid shop
2. Decide what to buy
3. Drive home and take a small sterile sample and put in a padded envelope and ship to CA (or wherever)
4. Drive to post office and pay for shipping
5. Wait for return test results
6. If tested for virus and positive
7. Drive back to orchid shop and argue with grower to refund money

Wooooo....I got tired just typing that

Will post again in 90 or so days

Cheers to the big apple

J

[escualida]

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

If you want to take the time to :
1. Drive to orchid shop

Nope, I buy mostly online

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

2. Decide what to buy

Don't know what this has to do with viruses, don't you always have to decide what to buy?

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

3. Drive home and take a small sterile sample and put in a padded envelope and ship to CA (or wherever)

Takes two seconds to cut off a piece of a leaf and stuff it in an envelope.

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

4. Drive to post office and pay for shipping

Done online as well, print my own label and stick it on, only takes two seconds, and I tend to send many samples at once so shipping is negligible. Post office picks up packages at my house.

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

5. Wait for return test results

Don't see why this wold be a difficult thing to do but OK

Originally Posted by Nanook 2010

6. If tested for virus and positive
7. Drive back to orchid shop and argue with grower to refund money

Nope, done online as well.

Again, I wasn't telling people that this is what they should do, I was simply stating that sterilizing cutting tools is something you should always do, even when you are trying to be "carefree".

I doubt very much that taking 2 seconds to sterilize the cutting tool you are using would suddenly make having orchids *oh so stressful*.

[/QUOTE]

[AnonYMouse]

Its Nanook 2010's experiment. He gets to set the protocols.

[escualida]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

Its Nanook 2010's experiment. He gets to set the protocols.

I never said he couldn't, he can care for his orchids however he wants. But this is a public forum where a lot of people come to learn, and I don't think it's crazy or out of line to state that cutting tools should be sterilized, lest someone who doesn't know come across this thread and think that they don't need to. That's what these forums are for right? Sharing ideas so we can all learn from each other?

[silken]

Originally Posted by escualida

I never said he couldn't, he can care for his orchids however he wants. But this is a public forum where a lot of people come to learn, and I don't think it's crazy or out of line to state that cutting tools should be sterilized, lest someone who doesn't know come across this thread and think that they don't need to. That's what these forums are for right? Sharing ideas so we can all learn from each other?

I think you are in the majority here regarding caring what happens to plants we spent good money on and have a deep interest in. I could buy 6 heavily discounted NOID Phals with minimal problems and sit back and not give a hoot what the end result is. But that's not what I want or what I consider my orchid hobby to be.
I started with NOID phals and still love them and have some. But that fed a much deeper interest in orchids in general and the challenge to grow them well and push the limits as to what I can grow. It's a learning experience to do the research and try different ways to keep them all happy. So when time and money is invested in these special plants, I want to do the best I can for them which involves a little effort, including care not to spread viruses or any other disease or pest. I don't begrudge the effort at all. That's part of the challenge and the learning experience which is a valuable part of this hobby for me. I always like to be learning something and achieving more.

But each to his own. However when I put my plants onto a display table, I just hope the person who's plants are next to mine took the same care and thoughtfulness that I did with mine since I don't want my plants coming home with anything extra (unless its a ribbon!).

[escualida]

Originally Posted by silken

I think you are in the majority here regarding caring what happens to plants we spent good money on and have a deep interest in. I could buy 6 heavily discounted NOID Phals with minimal problems and sit back and not give a hoot what the end result is. But that's not what I want or what I consider my orchid hobby to be.
I started with NOID phals and still love them and have some. But that fed a much deeper interest in orchids in general and the challenge to grow them well and push the limits as to what I can grow. It's a learning experience to do the research and try different ways to keep them all happy. So when time and money is invested in these special plants, I want to do the best I can for them which involves a little effort, including care not to spread viruses or any other disease or pest. I don't begrudge the effort at all. That's part of the challenge and the learning experience which is a valuable part of this hobby for me. I always like to be learning something and achieving more.

But each to his own. However when I put my plants onto a display table, I just hope the person who's plants are next to mine took the same care and thoughtfulness that I did with mine since I don't want my plants coming home with anything extra (unless its a ribbon!).

I agree, and have a lot of plants that I paid good money for and are very precious to me. But I also have NoIDs that may not have cost much and I might not be that heartbroken if something happens to them, but I still make sure to sterilize whatever tools I'm using on them.

I guess my point was that sterilizing tools is something that should always be done, regardless of the plant. Because, why not?