Mold?? On New Orchid

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by SouthPark

Interesting! Marathon appears to be imidacloprid.

I also heard of malathion - but haven't used that one yet. Pretty sure that is an effective treatment too.

Malathion*is an*organophosphate*insecticide*which acts as an*acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. In the*USSR, it was known as*carbophos, in*New Zealand*and*Australia*as*maldison*and in*South Africa*as*mercaptothion.

Imidacloprid*is a systemic*insecticide*that acts as an*insect*neurotoxin*and belongs to a class of chemicals called the*neonicotinoids*which act on the*central nervous system*of insects. The chemical works by interfering with the transmission of stimuli in the insect nervous system. Specifically, it causes a blockage of the*nicotinergic*neuronal pathway.

[Dollythehun]

Where were you able to find Marathon? My jug is almost empty.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Last time I bought any was at Orchard Hardware Supply which has been bought and closed by the fine people at Lowe's.
Walmart maybe. Depends on your state. Also, Amazon.

[estación seca]

My Ace Hardware carries liquid and granular imidacloprid.

[PlumCrazy]

Originally Posted by Orchidtinkerer

scale comes in many different shapes and forms, the ones that look like little tufts of flour belong to the mealybug genus of scale.
The white fuzz preotects them from sprays which is why they need to be wiped off with ear buds dipped in alcohol.

I use inescticide which gets rid of them easily.

Well, that's great Didn't realize there were many types. Anyway, I wiped away as much as I could with alchol and cotton swabs. I removed that dead growth, and it looks like that's what killed it. This picture is after I'd cleaned a little bit so you can imagine how infested it was. Also treated with some imidacloprid I had on hand.

Thank you for the advice, everyone. Hopefully it can be saved and not set back too much.

[camille1585]

Word of warning about this type of mealybug. They can be found everywhere, and not just on plants. I couldn't figure out why they kept coming back after weekly rotating chemical treatments. I discovered, to my horror that they had colonized the underside of all the saucers the plants sit on. I found them hiding in the profiles of my metal shelves, and in my basket of orchid related supplies that I keep under the shelves. Luckily it was summer then, so I took everything outside, sprayed the orchids, soaked the saucers in hot soapy water, scrubbed them, and left them in the burning sun a couple days. I dismantled my shelves to clean every nook and cranny.

And by far the most disturbing, I found them in my sewing box a few months ago, where they had completely colonized a rolled up zipper. Don't ask me how they survive and breed in such conditions....

[PlumCrazy]

Originally Posted by camille1585

And by far the most disturbing, I found them in my sewing box a few months ago, where they had completely colonized a rolled up zipper. Don't ask me how they survive and breed in such conditions....

For some reason I find that very disturbing as well. Thanks for the words of warning. I had a similar experience several years ago where I just couldn't figure out where mealy bugs were coming from. I'd actually checked under the pots, but later discovered they were hiding under the lip of the pot. Anyone know how long they can live without feeding?

Anyway, my husband certainly did notice the orchids in the bathroom, and as I was inspecting the other two plants, he spotted one on the Bulbophyllum frostii. The plants rode in a box together on the car ride back from visiting my parents in Florida where I bought them, so I suspect that's how it transferred. I REALLY hope so as they were on opposite ends of my orchidarium. If they spread there, at least my mom said I could just tear the whole thing down and she'd fly me down to Florida to buy a new collection... so depressing....

So I used the imidacloprid on the frostii and the third plant.

[PlumCrazy]

I will finish the imidacloprid treatment for the three plants tomorrow. I have seen varying recommendations for the regiment saying every 7 or 10 days for 3-4 weeks, so just went with every 7 days 4 times. (FYI - I noticed imidacloprid was available at WalMart here in Indiana last week.)

How long should I continue to quarantine the plants before putting them in my orchidarium?

Plant 1: Christensonia vietnamica. Was transported with the other two plants. I have not seen any signs of scale on it.

Plant 2: Bulb. Frostii. In the picture in the previous post, you can see there was a small amount of infestation on it, which I removed with alcohol. I have not seen anything since.

Plant 3: Bc. hippodamia. Not sure if I ever trust this to go back in, but sadly I might not have to make that decision. I'm not sure if it will pull through. It lost 2 and 1/2 of it's four growths. You can't see it well in the pictures, but the remaining leaves have an "off" color, and the roots are looking very tired even though I've been watering it a couple of times a day, and most days bringing the humidifier down for the poor quarantine plants. The close up is a picture of the damage to one of the leaves before it fell off.

[estación seca]

I've had bugs show up on plants more than 6 months after they arrived. Some pesticides knock down populations that later come back.

Hippodamia is a very tough plant and I think it can come back. (Anything with Brassavola nodosa in it is a tough plant.) Put it somewhere with very high humidity. Water it then let it dry. Water as soon as it's dry. When spring is farther along I expect it will begin growing.

[Dollythehun]

If I may ask where you live in Indiana? Because I'm up north and I cannot find any imidacloprid around here. I'm working on my jug of granules from when I had the business open and when that gallon is gone I'm going to have to hunt.