them away from the rest of the collection and follow the steps 8) Make sure any orchids that are hanging or on a shelf are
outlined in the next section.
positioned so they are not dripping on the orchids below.
Please remember to thoroughly rinse tools, pots and surHow to keep your tender loving care from spreading faces after they have been dipped or sprayed down with the
10% bleach solution. There are dip/spray products, other than
virus throughout your collection
bleach, that are not as corrosive to metal but are more expenOne way to help control the spread of virus is to keep insect
sive. Bleach is a common household product and is less expopulations, under control. Viruses that are not stable outside
pensive. The choice is yours, but please make a choice.
of the host are usually spread by insects such as aphids and
If these sanitation steps are not already part of your routine,
thrips. The viruses that are very stable outside of the host are
they may sound like a lot of extra work, but your collection is
the ones that you spread through your collection with your
worth it, right? Just like any new regime, it takes time to figure
tender loving care. Here are the sanitation practices you need
out the schedule and the best flow, for you. It will become an
to implement:
effortless part of that tender loving care, you so readily give.
1) Always work on known healthy orchids first. Taking this
Healthy, robust orchids with lots of beautiful blooms will be
one step further, you should have a separate work area for
your healthy orchids and a separate work area for your in- the payoff of your new sanitation regime.
fected orchids.
2) Your hands can spread viruses so using disposable gloves
is useful, making sure to change your gloves between orchids.
If you choose not to use disposable gloves, then you need to
make sure you are cleaning your hands between each orchid,
including under your nails with a 10% bleach solution.
3) Always make sure your work surface is cleaned after every
orchid. One of the easiest ways to make sure this happens is
to use news paper or brown paper that can be thrown away
with the completion of each orchid. If you choose not to use
a paper barrier, clean up and dispose of all debris then spray
the surface down with a 10% bleach solution and let sit on the
surface no less than 5 minutes, but 10 to 15 minutes is better.
4) Never reuse potting media.
5) If reusing pots, rinse the pot, making sure it is free of any
debris. Then soak the pot for at least an hour in a 10% bleach
solution making sure to rinse thoroughly before using. Bleach
residue can be a problem for your orchids. The best practice is
to use a new pot.
6) Between each orchid, make sure you rinse all visible plant
material and sap off the cutting tool. Pay close attention to
the area where the scissors are held together. Once the tool is
rinsed off, submerge into 10% bleach solution for no less than
5 minutes, but 10 to 15 minutes is better. Be sure to change the
bleach solution when it becomes green, rinsing thoroughly in
clean water, after each soak. Having more than one set of cutting/trimming/dividing tools is a great way to make sure you
are always working with clean tools. As one is soaking, you
can use the next clean tool. Disposable razor blades are another option. This allows you to use a new blade for each orchid.
7) Make sure your orchids are not crowded together. Orchid
leaves are pretty tough, and it’s not likely that they can wound
each other just by touching. However, if there is a wound, sap
to sap transmission can occur. Better to be safe than