The box finally made it to its final stop. Alamo Frills, Cherry Cola and one baggie of Cirelda did not make it. Some of the others are questionable but might come through. I will keep them in water overnight to give them a chance to recuperate until I begin my potting marathon tomorrow. This is what was in the box: Ancient Lace Apache Redcoats Blue Laurette (plant) Blue Twinkle (plant) B'Man's Irish Red Cirelda Emerald Pink (Plant) Fiery Sunset Hearts Aglow Jolly Disco Jolly Eyes Mac;s Just Jeff Mac's Flamboyant Flame Marching Band Ma's Melody Girl Morgan's Lady Chatterjee Mystic Green Ness Dynomite Opt. Dali Pink Feathers Primulina Beige cutting Rob's Cool Fruit Rob's Ice Maiden Rob's Inner Orbit Rob's Pewter Bells Rob's Smarty Pants Streptocarpella Blueberries & Cream cuttings Suncoast Wild Mustang Tomorrow's Pink Ice Thanks Eileen for all the great starts and the other gessies. Thanks everyone for taking part in this RR. It had a small glitch with the missing box but everything turned out ok in the end. Hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did.

Growhappy, I've been reading accounts from several people who have had plants test positive. Based on their experiences (and Irina's) AVs can show symptoms quickly, can take many months to show, or may not show symptoms at all. One plant that tested positive had no symptoms until 9 months after the person had completely cleared a thrips infestation. Others, as Irina noted, have tested plants that showed no symptoms at all, yet the test was positive. As far as I've been able to tell, no one has studied AVs related to INSV so no one knows the specifics of it related to time frame, etc. Sandy, who wrote the recent AV Magazine article about INSV, said that she found changing light and temperature was how she originally found she had a problem. She changed lighting and temperature because she thought it might account for the symptoms she had. Within a week or so of doing that, her plants became much more symptomatic. I found an article that echoed that changing light and temperature sometimes will work to accelerate development of the virus. Sandy suggested that if anyone has a plant about which they are concerned that they should increase the temperature and light. Also, as noted, Epicias can succumb very quickly. There are other "indicator" plants. According to a Colorado Extension article, "Early warning of virus presence also can be noted by using indicator plants or plants that show TSWV/INSV symptoms earlier than others. Such plants include the petunia cultivar 'Calypso' and gloxinias. Both plants are extremely susceptible to both viruses and will show symptoms within a week after infection. Non-sticky blue or yellow cards placed near indicator plants can attract thrips and increase the likelihood that the indicator plants will become infested." See link below for entire article. A Univeristy of Mass article also suggested using an indicator plant. "The petunia cultivars Calypso, Super Blue Magic and Summer Madness have been shown to make good indicator plants for several reasons. First, these varieties are highly attractive to western flower thrips. Secondly, infected petunia plants do not serve as source of virus in the greenhouse because INSV does not become systemic within these petunias. Infected leaves can be picked off and discarded and petunia indicator plants can remain in the greenhouse to continue monitoring. Another reason is that the virus lesions show up very soon after thrips feed. Thrips feeding injury on the foliage leave distinct white feeding scars. If the thrips are carrying INSV, a brown rim and, later, a circular lesion can be seen around the white feeding scars as early as 2-3 days after exposure to thrips." http://www.umass.edu/umext/floriculture/fact_sheets/pest_management/virusind.html Here is a link that might be useful: Colorado Extension Article

has any one tried using praetor nematodes and praetor mites to control spider mite, broad mites and thrips. They are like little lions feeding on the pests, praetor nematodes live in the ground killing any thing they find and most of the pest live part of their live there. Thrips spend the first part of there live under ground. The praetor nematodes come in a little sponge that you cut 1/3 of put in a spray bottle of water and let it sit for a 1/2 hour, shake it up and spray the surface potting mixe and then water them in good. It cost $18.00and the 2/3 that you have not used put in the cooler and treat you plants ever 2 weeks till it is gone. They will live on the sponge in the cooler for 6 weeks. I also treat my plants with praetor mites at the same time , they like to find the bad mites and lay their egg among the spider mites and broad mites eggs . When the praetor mites they are hunger an the love to eat mite eggs. they come in several different ways praetor mites"NEOSEIULUS CUCUMERIS" come in quick release packets $1.99 and it is enough to treat 1-2 plant racks 4 shelves 48 in. long. You springily the product which looks (it is ) wood saw dust over the plants It is import to do these after dark. sun light kills praetor mites nematodes & praetor mites mites!!!! Praetor mites"NEOSEIULUS CUCUMERIS"also come in slow release pack $1.99, you but pack on each shelve and as they hatch they leave the pack ove 6 week periodAs a Added protection !!! They best thing is they very best Insecticides /Miticides likeForbid 4F Miticide, Avid EC Miticide and Marathon a systemic insecticides do not kill the praetor nematodes and praetor mites so you can still use them!!!! YOU CAN NOT USE NEEM OIL Why because it kills every thing even the good praetor bugs then you have nothing to keep spider mite, broad mites and thrips under control!!! The day beforetaking your plants to a show put NEOSEIULUS CUCUMERIS mites "in the slow release pack in your box with your warping- material and leave it there for the whole trip with your plants

Interesting review of Vista and MS, as a company, in todays NY Times. Although they feel Vista has a long way to go, the writer built his own machine from scratch and marvels at how MS managed to build an operating system which can coordinate all these different components of software and get them to work together. I'm not explaining it right, but he said Apple never did that. They only use their own stuff which made their life simple. MS built their Windows OS to act like a 'Conductor' which runs an orchestra of players who write different music. He is not promoting MS, but rather finds it amazing that Windows works as smoothly as it does. Jane