I am wondering if, stripped of leaves, dipped, and bagged, it is possible to guarantee 100% clean material when sharing germplasm.
I currently operate under the assumption that I could have chili thrips.
I am no spray, and rarely see signs of such, but in October, I have noticed some stunted growth on a plant or two the past few years. I know they abound in Eastern Texas, and I did ignorantly buy some shrubs on clearance when I passed through Houston some years ago.
It seems possible that in my no-spray yard, predators might keep then in check, and that, combined with the fact that I allow my plants to go dormant in the hottest months, might account for the mild case.
I tend to presume that resistance to pesticides would be pretty minimal in my no-spray garden – though if the pests originated from the nursery trade, that could be a risky assumption.
I am wondering if I can ever in clear conscience, after stripping leaves and treating (perhaps with spinosad and some secondary systemic – I had though imidacloprid, though I’m reading mixed info) and then bagging a soil-less plant, offer to share material. (I would ask anybody to please disbud plants for a couples months too, I suppose. I don’t want to poison any native bees.)
Do you suppose one could truly guarantee clean material that way? And would it ever, under any conditions, be safe to share pollen?
FWIW I know my county also has RRD. I am assuming as long as I have found no signs of such within miles of my yard, I can share in clear conscience?
(And I assume that sterilized seed is safe.)
Thanks.
-Philip