What are these insects on my orchid?

[Leafmite]

If you have a bucket that fits the entire orchid, the easiest thing to do is to set the orchid in the bucket and fill it with water so that the water covers the entire orchid. Two hours later, take the orchid out and either run a fan on it or hang it upside-down until the orchid is completely dry. I don't know the life cycle for thripes or if this kills thripe eggs but this is what I do when I discover, in the middle of winter, that ants have a nest in one of my pots. I submerge the plant in my laundry tub before I go to bed and take it out in the morning. The ants are eliminated. There are also some pesticides that are safe for indoor use and marked as such, as NY has indicated. Or, if you use fine bark, you can try granular rose systemic (Bayer's 3-in -1). Good luck!

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by scy

Thanks for the suggestions! Is there a non-toxic route that I could take? I can't use anything toxic or requires ventilation. My orchids are all indoors. Also how do I spray on the phal since it might get to the crown? How long do I need to continue treatment to make sure I get the entire life cycle?

The stuff I mentioned is not harmful (well, unless you directly breathe in the whole can intentionally, then maybe yes). It is meant for indoor organic garden use. It says you can spray on fruits and eat with no problem.

The reason you have to enclose the treatment area is so that the chemical doesn't get all blown out, which then would of course be useless.

I use it about a couple of times and never had to deal with bugs.

Ventilation is needed for fresh air and to get rid of the smell.

---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

If you have a bucket that fits the entire orchid, the easiest thing to do is to set the orchid in the bucket and fill it with water so that the water covers the entire orchid. Two hours later, take the orchid out and either run a fan on it or hang it upside-down until the orchid is completely dry. I don't know the life cycle for thripes or if this kills thripe eggs but this is what I do when I discover, in the middle of winter, that ants have a nest in one of my pots. I submerge the plant in my laundry tub before I go to bed and take it out in the morning. The ants are eliminated. There are also some pesticides that are safe for indoor use and marked as such, as NY has indicated. Or, if you use fine bark, you can try granular rose systemic (Bayer's 3-in -1). Good luck!

Dunking in the water doesn't work for thrips because they fly. They will go away while the plants are in the water and then come back to them when the plants are out of the water again.

Systemic would probably be the easiest route. Is it safe to use indoor though? like the run off water from the treated pot and such?

[scy]

Thank you for your quick replies. NYOrchidman: I think I misunderstood what you said in the prior post since you suggested I leave the house for 20 min. How do you suggest I spray on the phalaenopsis since I can't get the crown wet?

[butterfly_muse]

Originally Posted by scy

Thank you for your quick replies. NYOrchidman: I think I misunderstood what you said in the prior post since you suggested I leave the house for 20 min. How do you suggest I spray on the phalaenopsis since I can't get the crown wet?

I'd recommend just spraying it on the phal, crown and all; Do it early in the morning, which will give the plant the whole day to allow the water to evaporate off. I mist my plants 3-4x/day every day and have not had any issues. If you're REALLY paranoid, spray it, then dab it out of the crown with a q-tip or paper towel.

[scy]

Nyorchidman: where did you buy the safer product? It's not available at Home Depot, lowes or Kmart/sears.

Butterfly: thanks for the tip! I've had a phal before but they died the moment a drop or 2 hit the crown. I even used paper towel to absorb it! I finally decided to try another phal.

[NYCorchidman]

I think I ordered it directly from the company or whoever the online company who carries the product. It was around $8 but the shipping was about the same price. I know. but I needed it and it worked for me, so can't complain much.

I don't think I understand clearly your concern about getting the crown of the phal wet??

Unless you spray directly on the plant for a few seconds, things don't get drippy wet.
You said your dendrobiums are the main plants being attacked, right?
I would spray all over the dendrobiums and then spray generaous amount for all other plant (like spray over the whole growing area near the affected dendrobums, not right up to each plant, which you can if you want).
Of course all the windows and doors should have been closed before you spray.
Then after spraying the growing area, you leave that room or space. Shut the door or gate of that growing area. Wait about 15-20 minutes. Go back to the growing area and open the windows and doors to ventilate.

By the way, if you believe your phals have bugs hiding on the crown, then you might want to spray on the crown. You can dab with tissue or kitchen towel.
I take one end (corner) of kichen towel and twist it around making it sharper. This way, you can just place this sharp end of it at the center of the crown, sucking up any liquid left in there.

I use this method for my paphs, although not often as I rarely dump water on my paphs and phals. only the roots.

[scy]

I have checked on my orchids every few days since my dendrobium miyakei just started to bloom. I went through it with rubbing alcohol on the leaves. I didn't see any thrips today but I know it may just be hidden for now.

My concern for getting the crown wet for my phal was that in the past, I accidentally had a few water droplets hit the crown when I watered. I immediately folded a paper towel and absorbed it. It wound up getting crown rot and died. Ever since I've been afraid to try and grow phals until recently when I found one I just couldn't resist. I do not see any thrips on the phal but I wanted to be safe than sorry. I do see specs in the crown but i can't tell what it is.

- Susan

[butterfly_muse]

Honestly, I have to wonder if your past experience wasn't with a phal that was already suffering from rot and it just happened to coincide with you getting it wet for a few seconds. Unless water stays in the crown for an extended period, I don't think it will rot. =\ Like I said I spray mine 3-4x a day and haven't had a problem. That said, my spray bottle sprays a really light, fine mist so that could be part of it too, lol. I have submerged my plants leaves and all before as well (weak roots) and haven't had a problem. As long as the water has time to evaporate and if you dab it out, there shouldn't be an issue.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by scy

I have checked on my orchids every few days since my dendrobium miyakei just started to bloom. I went through it with rubbing alcohol on the leaves. I didn't see any thrips today but I know it may just be hidden for now.

My concern for getting the crown wet for my phal was that in the past, I accidentally had a few water droplets hit the crown when I watered. I immediately folded a paper towel and absorbed it. It wound up getting crown rot and died. Ever since I've been afraid to try and grow phals until recently when I found one I just couldn't resist. I do not see any thrips on the phal but I wanted to be safe than sorry. I do see specs in the crown but i can't tell what it is.

- Susan

Thrips are very small so they hide easily. Check the parts where leaves meet the cane. Another place they like to hide is since they like to attack flowers, they are actually inside the flowers. It is very hard to get rid of them there. You may find them walking around inside flowers or in the back of flowers. Even if you don't see them, if you mist or blow air at flowers, then they may come out.

Regarding phals, it is best to be careful so that water doesn't get in the crown. I do get water in my phals in their crown accidently, but I don't evevr accidently get water in there, even when I clean the leaves in the tub. I take great care so that water only goes into the pot and on the roots.
Now, even if you think you have dried out all the water trapped in the crown, there might still be some water left there depending on what you use.
I mean have you ever looked into that crack?
also, again depending on what you were using, it is possible that you might have scratched the tender young leaf surface by rubbing it on a regular basis, thus exposing the plant tissue vulnerable to microorganism attack.

Whatever really happened, it's best not to get water there. and do not touch new developing leaves. not leaves in general. just water carefully and that's it.

Phals should be easy and very rewarding otherwise.