Orchid problem

I would just give them a good soaking in water. You could add a little dish soap to the water or even an insecticidal soap ( I'm not into synthetic insecticides). My first fall bringing in my plants in I was shocked at the insects that had moved into my orchid pots especially the roaches and ants. I flushed all the pots with the soapy water and didn't see a sign of the pest all winter - I keep mine inside under lights. Of course most will say not to reuse the water so as not to spread disease to the other plants but soapy water is pretty cheap.

Mark

it's the nicotine that kills the bugs--so you can make tobacco tea? hmm, learn something new every day.... but aren't cigarettes really expensive these days? ;)

--j_a

How about boiling the water gently for a minute? That would surely kill the virus.

You know, guys, aside from asking whether boiling destroys TMV (after all, you burn it when you smoke it and yet you won't let a smoker touch your orchids) nicotine concentrate is not really healthy for *you*.

Diana