Virus Testing

In this video, I test some of my orchids that were slow growing and I suspected might be virus infected. I show plants and the virus testing results of 4 of my plants and one additional organism.

[@sheiselwilliams1]

Wishing you a speedy and complete recovery from Covid! I'm sorry to hear that you are also losing more orchids to viruses. I commended you for being conscientious enough to throw them away instead of passing them on to others. Best wishes, Sherrii

[@plantpropagator]

Thanks Sherri - I am over COVID - tested negative. And, my plants have moved on also with new replacements for the infected plants. Everyone is good!!!

[@OrchidMarcus]

What a twist at the end! Hope you get well soon.

[@plantpropagator]

I had planned this video for a while - the twist was new for me and you!!

[@arsolano90]

Get well soon! Thanks for making this video.

[@plantpropagator]

Thanks for the note and for watching my video.

[@yolantalachance2779]

Thank you for your video. Good call on your orchids and I guess on yourself too. I’m sorry you test positive 😢😢😢😢😢

[@plantpropagator]

Thanks - I should just toss the orchids that do not do well for me - I do need the space for the seedlings!!

[@yolantalachance2779]

@ i’m running to the same problem, not enough space but so many beautiful orchids.

[@kimgarcia5067]

Thanks for this video. That’s dedication to make a video while sick with COVID! Hope you feel better soon. Do you recommend any specific way to dispose of virused plants?

[@plantpropagator]

It was a very mild case - not nearly as bad as the last time that I had COVID - it felt like a cold. I toss my infected plants either in the yard waste which are composted (I think) or in the regular trash, if I cannot easily separate the orchid from the medium/pot. This is not considered biohazard waste since these are common plant viruses. It does not need to be autoclaved prior to disposal. Others might isolate and keep the plants, which I think is a bad idea. Thanks for your comment.

[@pixie2488]

Ohh thanks for sharing 🙏 Good informative video again. Get well soon. I have a kind of cold now as well and trying to not to get out of my house. I didn’t test my self but just in case I don’t even want to spread my usual 😷. Have a good rest ❤

[@plantpropagator]

I am always happy to share - thanks for your comment!

[@cubanmama4564]

Oh, No! COVID! You just traveled! Get well soon. Thank you for this video. It may help me ID what's going on with my Lc. Mini Blue Magic.

[@plantpropagator]

I am glad that it may have helped. COVID for me this time was pretty mild - I was vaccinated pretty recently and I understand that the current strain does not lead to really bad symptoms. I was more worried about passing it on to the people around me so I stayed in and played with my orchids!!

[@maraleelachovsky4702]

Feel better 😅.

[@plantpropagator]

Thanks - I do feel better already!!

[@Naturamorpho]

I am always so afraid that I haven't heat-disinfected my cutting tool long enough! I do it on the stove top, and keep it on the fire long enough to make a loud and long hiss when I dunk it in water. And, take care of yourself! Latest strains of covid are quick to go, I had it last year, but it is not something to play with!

[@plantpropagator]

Thanks for the comment and note. This strain seems to be very mild but I was vaccinated not so long ago. This time, no loss of taste!!

[@pauladixon-williams3246]

So sorry you are not well. Is it a problem keeping a virus plant? Will they ever get better? Is there a cure? Thank you for sharing

[@plantpropagator]

I am feeling better - it is a mild case. No, the virus infected plant will not get better. In the laboratory, I could isolated the very small growing tip of an infected plant (meristem) to get a virus free plant from an infected plant but this is tough to do. The growing tip of the plant is not connected to the vascular system of the plant and it will be clean. People mistake the eye on an orchid for the meristem and they are not the same. Meristems are tiny (need a good scope to see and a shard of glass to dissect) and are in the center of the eye. Most people who "mericlone" do not take the meristem but use a small shoot tip. Mericloning is used as a cloning tool in orchids rather than a way to isolate virus-free plants. Mericloning for virus free plant recovery is at another level. Sorry - long answer..

[@pauladixon-williams3246]

@ thank you for the full explanation. I love your knowledge and how you share. I’m glad the Maikai is virus free. Get well soon🌸❤️

[@plantpropagator]

@@pauladixon-williams3246 One bad Maikai - the other is OK. As soon as I harvest the capsule on the OK Maikai, I think that it will be time to divide!!

[@pauladixon-williams3246]

@ I’m ready!!

[@lucash7012]

How are your firefly petunias doing?

[@elpilarorchids]

oh man, lots of virus' around. feel better soon!

[@plantpropagator]

Thanks - fertilized my orchids today so I am starting to feel better!!

[@Nvorchid]

Can Physan 20 be used to disinfect shears?

[@plantpropagator]

Although the label on Physan 20 says that it is an algaecide, veridic, fungicide, and bactericide, it is a general disinfectant and I do not recommend to use it to disinfect shears of viruses. It may work straight out of the bottle (as a concentrate) but I do not know. I sometimes use it to treat my seedlings but the recommended use level for plants and orchids is very low and control of most pathogens is really minimal (at that recommended level). It has the same active ingredient that is found in air freshener cleaner, all-purpose/multi-surface cleaner, bathroom, general cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, and soap scum remover cleaner. For tools, flame on!!