[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Karina, the important thing is to us good hygiene with your orchids. While some symptoms are pretty positive to identify virus, most symptoms are not clear at all if it is virus or some look alike problems. Also, most virused orchids show no symptoms at all, so that you probably have a few plants in your collection still with virus, and may have thrown out non-virused plants. Without testing, it just isn't a sure thing. That is why we are so careful, some of us, to always treat our tools for virus protection. Unfortunately, I believe boiling water is not really hot enough to be sure it kills virus, and certainly it is not hot enough to kill some fungal spores. I would recommend 10% bleach for 10-15 minutes, a saturated solution of TriSodiumPhosphate for the same time (not the TSP substitute), or some amount of heat beyond the temp of boiling water.