Scale maybe?

[Phal grower]

I just found what I think is scale. I will post pics and hope that you can see what I see. Small brown bumps on the flowers about 1/8in long, ovale in shape. Any ideas on how to treat this. I only have about a dozen plants and far as I can tell there are only three of these bumps, all of them on the flowers. Thanks.

[Vanda lover]

Yes, that does look like scale. BUMMER! They are a real pain to get rid of. You have to be very persistant and don't let them get away on you.

[Lorraine]

If you see just a few use a Qtip dipped in alcohol and clean those buggers off with that. I keep a bottle of 409/alcohol & water (1 part -1 part- 1/2 part) mixed on hand to hit anything that shows up in between my reg spraying.

[Phal grower]

Ok, so is there anything that I could change in the culture of the plants that would help fight the scale?

[Lorraine]

Originally Posted by Phal grower

Ok, so is there anything that I could change in the culture of the plants that would help fight the scale?

When repotting I totally toss the old medium and spray down the plant with my mix and using a toothbrush clean off around the base of the plant up the pseudobulbs clean off any old sheathing. I then use my hose sprayer to thoroughly rinse off the plant. Let dry and pot up/mount. I keep a close eye on that plant and hope I got them all. Then it's usually time for a monthly spray anyway. Check the plants nearby. They could be the culprit or the next victim. The brown bodied scale you have is a little easier to spot. Mine is white and hard as heck to spot. Little buggers start out as crawlers and before you know it they are a bunch. Hate, Hate, Hate em!!!

[stefpix]

I would cut the flowers with scale off. Or at least remove it with rubbing alcohol. the juvenile form of scale you can't really see it and it moves around.

I would probably soak the bare root plant in (dish) soapy water and repot.

I would be worried about the nearby plants. probably would use some systemic imidclorprid granules.