Probably my last order with Ecuagenera

[katsucats]

Great experts of OrchidBoard, take a look at the two attached photos and see if you can identify which is virused. Is it

1. Oncidium sotoanum
2. Encyclia osmantha (with the spotty leaves)
3. Dendrobium nobile
4. Both the sotoanum and osmantha
5. Both the sotoanum and the nobile

Like many others here when shown the pictures I would have put my money on the Encyclia osmantha being virused. In fact, I put that plant in a corner separate from all the other ones I picked at the Huntington Garden show. When I tested, I tested the other ones together thinking they looked clean. But... it turned out I was wrong.

It was the Oncidium sotoanum and the Dendrobium nobile that tested positive for CymMV, not the spotty, sickly looking Encyclia osmantha. I bet money that most people who receive plants that looked like the former two would be rather happy about it. They look healthy, lots of green unspotted leaves, good clump, and new growths. Virus would be the last thing on anyone's minds. But nevertheless... Testing is expensive and most people don't, so I'm feeling that for anyone who has over 6-7 orchids, it's statistically likely that they have a virus, regardless of how reputable the vendors they buy from are, regardless of how healthy looking the plants are, and regardless of how good their culture is. If you have 30 plants and don't test, I'd risk getting hit by lightning over betting that you don't have virus in your collection.

As for Ecuagenera, maybe 2 outta 3 ain't bad in some contexts, but it's way more than it should be. Although most of the plants I've ordered from them in the past are not virused, and it's still very possible to get huge and inexpensive plants, it's clear that some of their batches and suppliers are of questionable quality, and their refund policy isn't as aboveboard as the best vendors. So at the end of the day it's like playing roulette, either you get a deal or you get dealt, and I'm feeling like I would rather get a smaller plant from another vendor unless it's something I can't find anywhere else.