Calling all Orchid lover/fanatics pls help?

I am not a green fingered person but i do love flowers i mentioned that i like Orchids in a room full of people and for my birthday back in April guess what i got?? not one but THREE Orchids. (should have told them i liked sports cars too :-)


I almost killed one to much water from the top of the pot.


Yes i know now its a no no.


Well its now December the last of the flowers are just dying off the last one but i have noticed little bugs they are whiteish and furry. my questions are


1. What are they?


2. Are they harmful to the Orchid if yes in what way?


3. Can i get Rid of them?


4. Should i get rid of them and how?


I know i sound like the usual novice because i a but im am proud of the fact they are still alive and apart from their lodgers they look quiet healthy. I would love to see them flower next year that would be the ultimate.





Thanks in advance x

Calling all Orchid lover/fanatics pls help?
sorry I disagree with the other answer, what you have got is mealy bug. If you squash them you'll probably find a brownish soft creature inside the wollen coat. Thgere are various ready to use sprays, you can also try methaylated spirit dipped onto and using a coton bud stick to gentle dab the mealy bugs. They are fairly persistent once established but the plants will usually live ok. Mealy bugs are opportunist so watch for your others plants, theylll spread quickly and usually hide or are seen in the leaf joints/ nodes. You can also try a systemic killer when you water the plants.. Dont despair, we've a window ledge full of orchids and christamas cacti, which is another plant mealy bugs like. Just methodically and repeatedly apply your bug spray and they'll go eventually.


E$dit: just remembered, the way to tell is mealy bugs are static, they will not move when you touch or move your plants, white fly will take off and actually fly away when you move your plants, whitefly are more a summer pest on greenhouse tomatoes. Good luck


Edit 2 ref your further info I'm convinced you've got mealy bug your description is spot on. Don't panick, our plants often get the wretched things, the pest is so easily introduced on other plants you bring into the house but you will get rid of them, you just have to keep up with the treatment as per the bug spray/ liquid instructions.
Reply:So you have the mealy bug fugured out. Now you need to know what kind of orchid it is and find a good nursery that sells orchid food. Plunging in water every 10 to 14 days will be good. My friend is growing orchid successfully and using worm casting tea every time she waters. She said they are looking healthier than ever.They are setting buds now..... getting ready to rebloom.
Reply:Mealy bugs, Isopropyl alcohol on cotton ball will kill them and not harm your orchids. Fish emulsion is a great fertilizer. smelly, but effective, or MiracleGro.
Reply:The other answers regarding mealy-bugs are correct. The adult mealy bugs look much like Q-Tips. There are 2 sprays that come to mind in treating the pests. The first is Isotox by Ortho. Spray according to label directions, never stronger. This is a systemic spray and can be put into the watercan. The other spray is Triple Action 20. It is a fungicide,algaecide,insecticide combination. Can be used on indoor and outdoor plants as can Isotox. Orchids are not the easiest of plants to tend to; so congratulations. If your bath area has bright light, then give your plants a gentle rain from the shower or vegetable sprayer to clean the plants and supply the much desired humidity. This is as close to a greenhouse effect you can create in the average home. Mealybugs are harmful to the plant, due to robbing the nutrition away from the host. Their purpose was to stimulate you to devote more awareness to your world.
Reply:sounds like wooley aphid.. yes they are harmful.. they suck the sap out of the plant..


If there aren't too many pick them off, if its infested buy a greenfly spray for indoor use or use washing up liquid watered down if you don't like chemicals.
Reply:Don't panic nuttyred x I have several of them. They can be rather difficult to keep, however I can give you a few tips that will hopefully help you.


Firstly, never water from the top of the pot.


Get a mild insect repellant from your garden centre or store and mix a mild solution to finely spray the plants.


Spray all of them not just one.


Keep them in a reasonable temperature above 60 degrees and not near radiators.


Don't let the soil dry out completely but don't over water. Good luck



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