I keep hearing and reading about orchids getting viruses and that scares me a little. Do slippers also get virus like any other orchids?

Yes, slippers can get virus; however it is not as common as in some other types of orchids like phal and cattleya. The older a plant is, the higher the chance that it is infected with virus.

Prevention is important, not sharing dividing tools or pots among plants, and not allowing plants to drip water on each other.

Prevention is the best solution as what Justin has said. All plants can get virus but less common with slipper orchids.

Worrying about viruses will do you no good. Just be careful and follow the prevention rules.

Thanks guys! I know I'm a worry wart but that helps a little!

Interesting topic, I have asked a number of expert growers with many years of experience in both growing and judging and they all believe that Paphs cannot get virus. No one here has ever seen a Paph with a virus and generally it's believed they can't get one. I don't know if that's fact or 'orchid lore'.

On another note, people always mention plants getting a virus. But from my understanding, much like humans plants have latent virus swimming around in the system so to speak. And ultimately if the plant gets weak the virus can come out and effectively attack the plant. So all plants may have it and it may come down to culture in keeping it supressed if all plants have a virus anyway.

Although I admit I am not expert on this subject and could well be wrong. But the above is my understanding after hearing many talks and speaking with a number of growers.

I would like to hear more from people.

I read somewhere paphs were immune to viruses. :confused:

it might also be that they are actually more susceptible...i also read somewhere that in contrast to other genera, when paphs are infected with a virus, they decline quickly and die...thus they vanish.

catts etc. can live for decades and decades with virus...so there are many more infected divisions circulating around.

Justin that is interesting to know! If that is true then in a way I guess it is better that paphs die very quickly when they get the virus that way they don't spread the virus to other plants.