Should I Worry For My New Orchid's Health? - Orchid Board

Jenny11 · #1 04-04-2015, 05:07 AM

Last Week I bought this new Phalaenopsis when I was on my way out of the shop.
Got home, started to inspect her. at the base of the flower she had small spider webs between the soil-exterior roots-leaves. I just cleaned it with a water soaked cotton bud. Then I cut a yellow leaf - I though it was a normal old dying leaf (you can see in one of the photos where the leaf was).

After 4 days I decided to water it for the first time. Then I saw that it still had small spider webs (not so many as before). I cleaned them and thought that maybe haven't cleaned them all in the first place. I googled it to find out about mites and since then (another 4 days) I haven't seen any other spider webs.

But as I was inspecting her yesterday I saw this damaged leaf that you can see below in one of the photos. The damage seems to be only on the top part of the leaf.
Also, two flowers look a bit damaged-they feel healthy but as you can see this flower in the photo looks bitten. This flower was a bud when I bought it.

Do you think this is mites damage? If yes please recommend a pesticide available in the UK. I am keeping the flower isolated for now...

maelstrom mike · #2 04-04-2015, 01:47 PM

Typically a phal will lose leaves from the base of the plant as it ages, so that for sure is unusual. The "bite" is not from spider mites as they do not cause this type of injury. That deformation of the flower was probably done when the bud was very small and damaged somehow. Small sections of webbing between leaves typically indicates spider mites for most plants. First, you need to positively ID your problem (pest). This may require a magnifying glass to see if it's a spider mite.
After making a positive ID, I would start by searching this forum (search button third from right on top menu bar) for whatever is your actual problem. Examples: "spider mite" "spider mite phal" "spider mite control" - you get the idea, and peruse through the different threads to see what works best for your situation. Control can vary widely by environment, so try altering the environment so your plant still does well, but the pest does not. Misting a phal is good for the plant, because it raises humidity, and bad for spider mites, because they do well in dry, hot conditions.
Also, I would try balancing out the biodiversity in the environment before applying chemicals. If you can establish a predatory mite population that preys on the spider mites, then you don't have to continually spray pesticides to control them. I'm sure I have spider mites on some of my plants (not orchids), but there are other mites that keep them in check.
I'm sure you can find some sort of pesticide to control spider mites if they are your actual problem. Persistence is usually the solution to controlling them. So whatever you decide to do, continually do it until they are under control and then monitor for their presence so you can prevent another outbreak from happening at the first sign of their presence.
If you want to learn more about pest management, I'd suggest searching for Integrated Pest Management and that might give you some ideas.
Sorry, that was a lot to read through, but there are lots of sources out there to help you. Remember, everybody has made mistakes and loses orchids. This is the natural process of becoming a good orchidist. Just keep searching. Best of luck!

rbarata · #3 04-04-2015, 01:52 PM

Not considering the "bugs", your phal looks healty. The yeallow leaf has the typical look of an old leaf dying.

Jenny11 · #4 04-04-2015, 05:04 PM

Thanks guys for your replies it really helps.

I did lose a baby orchid when I re-potted it too late but with this one (and future ones for sure!) I want to be extra careful.
I believe I should keep an eye for spider webs and damage to the other leaves. I want to alter the environment but should I do it by misting water over the plant or keep it in the bathroom where humidity is higher than the rest of the house?

Also as soon as the blooms fall I'll repot it I don't want to assume any chances and besides, I observed that the supermarkets orchid providers do tend to suffocate them inside their pots

rbarata · #5 04-04-2015, 05:06 PM

Do you know the relative humidity of the environment she's in now? BTW, the temp also.

maelstrom mike · #6 04-04-2015, 05:11 PM

It may help if it can get enough light in the bathroom and the humidity stays high. A humidity tray (any tray with pebbles and water) underneath the pot are just as beneficial. Misting alone virtually solved my last spider mite outbreak. You can do this throughout the day as long as you leave enough time for the leaves to dry before the lights/sun goes out. Wet leaves and roots can lead to rot. Provide air flow if possible (may not be necessary). Try not to let water accumulate in the crown area of phals too, as this can also cause additional problems.

Jenny11 · #7 04-05-2015, 06:14 AM

The pictures that I provided are in the bathroom so yes she would get enough light. The humidity in the bathroom is not constant the highest reaches late in the afternoon when we use the shower. We also have a radiator and the temp is never less than 20*c. It would also have a nice air flow because the window opens at the top of the frame.
I would also mist her in the morning so she has time to dry.

rbarata · #8 04-05-2015, 10:45 AM

If it wasn't because of the bugs, I wouldn't worry about misting them. I don't do that to mine and the humidity in my room is always around 40- 45 %.