Viruses or thrips?

[Roberta]

I'm not sending out "warnings" to anybody... the knowledge about Ctt. Porcia 'Cannizaro' has been around for years, it does get mentioned at societies now and then, usually when someone brings one in for Show and Tell, somebody else will mention it. (Hint... join a society, one learns alot) I do know about mine because I tested it. But it is unusual for virused plants, in that it shows no signs - it is robust, flowers have no color break. The only hazard of having it in a collection is the potential to infect something else. Having the option of outdoor growing, I just keep it away from the rest of my collection. I would not take it to a show or society meeting for fear of infecting somebody else's plant, at this point it's irrelevant because it has gotten too big to move.(I did mention that it is robust!) If I am suspicious of a plant, I test it. Testing is the only way to know for sure about virus, because there are various other "insults" that can cause similar symptoms. And there are plenty of asymptomatic plants. So just follow good hygiene practices, and you'll likely have no problems with spread. (I tend to be pretty pragmatic... I'm not going to toss out a good performer but will be prudent. And based on testing, I don't have a virus problem in my collection. But I have the breezes of the great outdoors to dilute bad stuff) People who grow in closed environments (greenhouse, home, terrarium) should be more concerned - it CAN wipe out a collection. I know of some very sad stories.

[Shadeflower]

well spider mites freak me out more than viruses. I am pretty sure based on the odds that at least one plant in my collection has a virus.
SP at least you already know which one it is in yours

The reason spider mites freak me out apart from them doing a lot of damage is that they also spread a virus from one plant to another! Nobody is disinfecting their teeth as they nibble on an infected one and then wander over to its neighbour. I don't even think it is that likely that sharing water is too much of a concern unless one has just freshly broken a root for example to expose fresh plant juices to mix with the water and then drip on another plant but still not worth risking of course. The most obvious way to transfer it is using a tool to cut one plant and then use the same tool without sterilizing it on another. It's fresh plant juices that will always be the main concern with virusses. It's for this reason I try not to work on too many plants at the same time. I like to spread repotting over different days, let any tools dry well in between. I believe just like I have learnt that the corona virus can survive on surfaces but not that long that it must be the same with plant viruses, I assume that once they dry out they can't suvive.
One option would be to stick the orchid in the oven for an hour but I doubt the orchid would survive so yeah can't kill the one without the other so I opt for killing neither.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

I(Hint... join a society, one learns alot)

I prefer to keep a no-profile or low profile. However though, I am a member of AOS - American Orchid Society. But even if I haven't learned a lot from a society ----- we can (and have) learn/learned a lot from books, and the internet (sharing of information) and also from experience.

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

well spider mites freak me out more than viruses.

Totally!!! One nice cymbidium got attacked by spider mites. I was using pyrethrum solution to control the numbers. And I am just about to break out the azamax. I have never used it before, and I hear it will leave a bit of not-so-nice aroma for a while heheheh. Just deciding to go all-out on them, because they went all-out on my cymbidium.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

I prefer to keep a no-profile or low profile. However though, I am a member of AOS - American Orchid Society. But even if I haven't learned a lot from a society ----- we can (and have) learn/learned a lot from books, and the internet (sharing of information) and also from experience.

Some areas don't have local societies. but where one is available, they are a great opportunity to meet and share information with other hobbyists who are growing under conditions similar to yours. I am a member of the American Orchid Society but have learned very little from most of the publications, which address growing under conditions very different from mine. They only recently made available a book that really addresses growing of a variety of orchids under a variety of conditions. (I have reviewed that book elsewhere on OB). But sharing real-world information with people that you can talk to is extremely valuable. You gain the benefit of the experiences of other people, sometimes acquired over a long period of time, so that you don't have to make all of the mistakes yourself - learn from those of others, there are plenty of new ones to make...

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Some areas don't have local societies. but where one is available, they are a great opportunity to meet and share information with other hobbyists who are growing under conditions similar to yours.

There certainly are benefits that are gained from being involved with a local society. Although, perhaps (possibly) one possible issue ----- is we don't know the backgrounds of all society members - just as we don't know the backgrounds of all members on the internet.

There have been at least one known case in Australia, where some unfortunate member of an orchid society ----- I think it might have been down in Brisbane, where her entire collection ----- which happened to be locked in a lockable green/bush-house ----- went missing. Absolutely disgusting. So there can also be benefits in keeping a low profile ----- or no-profile as well.

With the existence of internet and orchid forums ----- the situation is much different from the 'old' days, where getting information might have been more challenging, or would take much more time and effort. Not as easy or convenient as in these more advanced times. So I think that a combination of internet and experience and a good orchid forum is excellent for orchid growers of many sorts.

It's definitely not necessary to be a part of a society. I joined AOS because it has some nice articles to read about orchids and orchid personalities - history etc, and sometimes nice videos, or webinars ----- where we can look at nice orchids. But ----- true --- a society (local or remote) does provide some nice benefits.

[UPDATE] --- just found a link about what I was discussing before, about orchids going missing ---- click here.

Now - that link is not where I learned about the incident. I think I saw society members in a forum or something talking about it - when it first happened. I didn't even know that it even went on the news like this.

[Davey]

Originally Posted by Roberta

(You should have a supply of test strips handy for when you suspect it).

Where can I find test strips?

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by Davey

Where can I find test strips?

Davey ...... these ones for example ----- ImmunoStrip® for Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)

And ImmunoStrip® for Cymbidium mosaic virus & Odontoglossum ringspot virus (CymMV & ORSV)

A google on those ones will lead you to sites for buying.

Originally Posted by Roberta

I'm not sending out "warnings" to anybody... the knowledge about Ctt. Porcia 'Cannizaro' has been around for years.

If the details are indeed true, then that knowledge is not out adequately.

The nice thing is that - if it is true that is ------ then it is at least broadcasted here, so that everybody can get some heads-up on this one.

[SouthPark]

Davey - I've never tested for viruses before, as I've never encountered a virus symptom with my orchids before.

So ------ been fortunate so far, and staying that way will be just fine and great!

[Davey]

Hi SouthPark! I don't blame you. I try not to worry about them more than I should. Thanks for pointing me towards the virus testing kits. I am intrigued by viruses and the mechanism they used to attach to host cells and that kind of stuff.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by Davey

Hi SouthPark! I don't blame you. I try not to worry about them more than I should. Thanks for pointing me towards the virus testing kits. I am intrigued by viruses and the mechanism they used to attach to host cells and that kind of stuff.

In the US, Agdia dominates the market. Advantage - easy to get (if you're in the US) , available in small quantity (but really expensive that way) Disadvantages - price, require refrigeration, shelf life not outstanding.

Also, you can get them from Rega in Taiwan (Rega Biotechnology Inc. | Lateral Flow Specialist | Taiwan | 土城區) Advantages - longer shelf life than Agdia, don't need refrigeration, higher sensitivity (but can show weak false positives), and cheaper per test. Disadvantages - only available in packages of 50 tests (If you have several people who want to share in the expense and want smaller quantity, an opportunity for a society group order), and it takes longer to get them because they're shipping from Taiwan. For those outside the US, this one would likely be the much better choice - they ship all over the world.

I have used both, more recently have been getting the Rega tests because I was able to participate in a group order, got a much better price.