virus testing and merristemming

[missann]

I always read that you should have an orchid tested for viruses if you suspect something is wrong, but I cannot find any places that do this. The only thing I have found is the do-it-yourself test kits, that, while affordable, only test for a few viruses.

I would like to find a place that LOOKS at the plant tissue to SEE if there are any virus bodies there.

Also, I can't find anywhere that does merristemming of dendrobiums. There was one place I found online that will make you 400 plants for something like 150 bux, but they don't do dendrobiums.

I have this one den. that I bought for 5 bux at the swap meet in Hawaii, and it is priceless to me because of it's sentimental value. I would be more than happy to pay 100 bux for ONE merristemmed clone.

SO-
If any of you know of places that can provide either or both of these services, let me know, and we should sticky it at the top of this forum.

[janet_a]

i think turtle creek will virus test, gimme a sec...

well, agdia will do it for you:

Agdia Testing Services Guide

pricey.

oh, wrong creek; try these folks too:

Critter Creek Laboratory

[missann]

Thank you, Janet. Those are the only two places I have seen as well, and I called one of them (I think critter creek) during normal business hours, and got a machine. I want to check for orchid fleck virus, which agdia testing doesn't do, I don't think. I guess I will just call some big growers and ask them where they get it done. Or maybe I will call around to different orchid socities. *sigh*

[Ellen]

Try e-mailing Critter Creek.

[missann]

This is so frustrating. I saw a video on you tube about a guy who owns an orchid greenhouse and lab. I can't find it now, and you would think that there would be a few people advertisiting online with all the growers out there.

[Orchidementia]

You may have better luck looking for a cloner if you spell it right - it's meristem with one 'r' (normally I don't give a crap about typos, but this one will slow down your hunt for a lab).