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Glad you are spreading the word as it will inspire many. I’m at the point of needing more than my 9 x 12 room under lights and community covenants prohibit free standing structures so I’m looking at maybe expanding my basement growing area. I was just about to start picking your brain so this...

Terry I use RO and have used MSU for a few years. The question is urea nitrogen. Should I incorporate it? I’ll email you.

My explanation of the process is the way I understand it in the simplest of terms, however, may not be completely representative. That would be an excellent question for Beth Lamb, she also does a lot of work for ag companies getting viruses out of commercial crops and is in FL. If you google...

(Ctt. Portia x C. mossiae coerulea) I didn’t want to hijack TerryRos thread on C. Arthos so created a new post. DrLeslieEe explained the color coerulea and I remembered this as the nearest example I have of it (I think). Determining the color required putting a magenta pink next to it to see if...

Informative, thanks.

Ah, sorry, I see now what you meant. I gave way too much info... It is possible if they came in clean they have stayed clean since you've not had them long. Testing again in 6 mos. is reasonable. And then in a year, or when you repot. By the way, Keith Davis says to test the newest mature...

Aaron: Those plants will never be virus free in your collection. The virus does not ‘go away’ over time. If anything the symptoms become more pronounced in plants. If you watch the webinar, he speaks of tge virus remaining viable for decades. Unless you are willing to quarantine them forever...

Re a meristem yes it could show up after a few years, but not with the process of PCR testing and re-tissue culture until it is gone. We were always told dry harvesting of seeds produced virus feee seedlings because seed is sterile. If a pod was cut into, to speed up the process as in some mass...

It's a complex paph (Elwing 'Snow Mass' x Amanda Hill 'Muir Woods HCC/AOS). The strange thing about your hypothesis is that it's been in constant growing conditions, so I don't think your hypothesis can be a factor.

I don't know for sure because I've only heard second hand, but it sounds like the process you speak of with the PCR testing of several generations of meristems is the process Beth Lamb in Florida does. She's pretty well known for her expertise. Each successive generation of tissue culture...

Well, I'm only changing one thing at a time. I contacted Sue Bottom at St. Augustine Orchid Society who writes regularly for Orchids Mag and has the most comprehensive website info on just about every pest and disease and what to do about it. While she acknowledges the possibility their might...

Oh my, I did not know you were thinking of getting rid of this one. For some reason I’ve always thought it was special. Maybe I’m a sucker, because ‘Blue Heaven’ was the flower that hooked me on cattleyas. Sometimes it’s worth giving a plant 3 or even 4 blooms. Yay!!! It’s gorgeous!!

The only thing that’s for sure, is nothing’s for sure…. As you point out, (only one scientist I know of) Beth Lamb in FL, has developed a process to clone the virus out of a cultivar. The process is very labor and time Intensive, using many generations of tissue culture to clone the virus out...

Carter and Holmes is an excellent source as they guarantee any orchids they grow against virus (but not those they get in from other vendors). Waldor is excellent as well. They will test before they ship if you ask them to, for $5. Basically, ask anyone you buy from to test before they ship. On...

Aaron, I'm so sorry. I do feel your pain. I also learned the hard way, losing 1/3 of my collection to virus at one point. Be aware that the most likely virus vector in your growing environment by far, is your hands!! Dave Off (Waldor, who were the first to identify viruses in orchids years...

I just realized recently that I’d gotten the wrong one. I was interested that now they say ‘extended PAR’. The spectral range of PAR (what plants use) has been extended it seems. This meter measures the ePAR and as an aside came with the DLI feature. I like it because it doesn’t have a separate...

Hadley Cash at Marriott used MSU and we all know his reputation with beautiful Paphs. I’ve never had a problem with any other plant like this. Here is the make up of my fert. Everyone I’ve ever heard speak says not to use urea nitrogen fertilizers on orchids, so your saying to, is confusing. It...

My orchids that are watered more often than once a week as small Paphs are, get 1/4 teas per gallon of MSU every watering if in bark. In moss they get flushed about every 3rd watering as I notice a buildup of salts on surface. Hard to believe they are not getting enough nitrogen.

I don’t smoke, so my above comment was not based on that but was in reference to crossover of viruses to other types plants. Didn’t mean to stir things up.

I’ve cut it off and repotted. Will douse with fungicide and bactericide.