Phalaenopsis Orchid-Teeny Tiny Bugs!?

[New2Orchids2020]

So today I watered and fertilized my orchids. As I was drying the bottom leaves near the roots I saw these teeny tiny bugs crawling. I killed two of them. What is this?! They are so very small that I cannot tell what it could be.

P.S. My orchid has lost one leaf. It was the very bottom one.

[DrDawn]

I can't see the bugs from your picture, but the American Orchid Society has a very comprehensive guide to orchid pests here. Once you figure out what they are, we can give you some advice in treating your plant.

Also, plants lose leaves for a variety of reasons, so don't stress about one dropped phal leaf. The rest of your plant looks quite healthy!

[Ray]

If they were in the potting medium and came out during watering, it's probably nothing to worry about.

The leaf drop is perfectly normal.