I'm CymMV Positive

[Jerry Delaney]

As far as I'm aware, there are no plant antivirals, so once infected, they'll be so forever.

I agree. At least I am not aware of any "cure". There are methods for some plants of obtaining virus free clones or bud wood. Roses can be 'cleaned' by growing known infected plants with rose mosaic at a temperature(constant) of 100 F for a month or so. While the plant remains virus infected, new buds are usually virus free and may be grafted onto virus free root stock. Also, some citrus viruses can be eliminated by cloning in the presence of some of the antiviral chemicals. I believe most of these chemicals inhibit DNA dependent RNA synthesis. Even this only yields a low %age of virus free plants. I am unaware of any proved method for eliminating virus from orchids once infected.

[Florida_guy_26]

I understand what all of you say about NO KNOWN insect vectors, however, all I was trying to do is say that if there was no known virus transmission by insect or arthropod, and tools are sterilized, how else besides the known way of water going from one pot to another can you explain the plant infection rate and other factors of this problem? Maybe the ones who suffer from this problem should take advice and seperate the plants completely from any uninfected plants. I hope that just because no one has read in their articles and books, does not mean it cannot be possible- however "improbable" it is. I just want everyone to think about their setup and how they believe the virus was transmitted to other plants in their collection. I will stick with the possibility that insects and arthropods could potentially pass along the virus because other than that and the other possibility of the virus being transmitted simply by contact of an infected plant with an uninfected plant how else do you think it would happen? Plants have cell walls to keep certain things in and other things out- if the cell wall is doing its job, then the theory of simple contact infection is "improbable" at least in my opinion. I will always have my opinion about the spread of viruses and bacteria and you will have yours, but no matter what the case, insects can transmit harmful things and should be eliminated in any case.

[camille1585]

We may sterilize our tools between each plant, but the big commercial growers sure don't. I visited a mega phal grower in the Netherlands,and saw their repotting area. The workers never wash their hands and the repotting machine is never cleaned, it's just too impractical.
About "eliminating insects in any case" that is just plain wrong, as many insects do no harm at all, and many don't transmit disease. Even some sucking insects are just incapable of transmitting virus. People are too quick to destroy everything. In the natural areas of the pest insect, for every 'bad' bug there is at least 7 other good bugs to harm them.

[Jerry Delaney]

I will always have my opinion about the spread of viruses and bacteria and you will have yours, but no matter what the case, insects can transmit harmful things and should be eliminated in any case.

Gee, Florida Guy, I sure hope you don't think that we are ganging up on you. Over the years concerning orchids I can only think of one statement that sums up all of the do's & dont's. As soon as one tells someone else "you can't grow orchids that way" you will most likely be proved wrong!! I have found that most times cold crow doesn't taste very good. I don't think anyone was trying to change your opinion which you are certainly entitled to. The second truism I have learned over the years is that first, everyone is entitled to have an opinion and second, having an opinion does not necessarily make one right or wrong, it just makes them "opinionated"!!!