Phal problem: Please help!

[aleau]

Hello, I just bought a pink Phalaenopsis orchid over the weekend. This is my first orchid so I'm really new to all of this.

After I repotted the plant and was cleaning off the leaves I noticed some tiny dark spots. They are hard black bumps on the underside of the leaves. Looking around the internet I think I might have found what they were

http://www.cloudsorchids.com/doctor/pscale1.jpg

I called my local garden/nursery and the lady told me not to worry about getting insecticides or anything to treat it. She said there was not much to do and just to cut off the leaves if it was that unsightly to me.

I was wondering if this was correct or I should get something to treat it? I don't really want to cut the leaves. They are pretty nice, green, and fleshy. The plant only has 4 medium leaves right now.
There is only one flower in full bloom that seems a bit wilt-y and I have 3-4 buds to bloom.

Any help or information is greatly appreciated!!



http://www.cloudsorchids.com/doctor/pscale1.jpg

[ipv6ready]

If the pix are of your plants then yes they are scales.

I am no expert, but I usually just scrape it off with my fingernail. Then I dab it with a little cinnamon to seal the wound.

No big deal.

If there are lots of scales you can spray some anti scale spray from garden stores or large super markets stocks them in Australia.

No reason I can see why you would cut off a Leave

[Dorothy]

Thing about scale is that even if you scrape off all the adults you could still have crawlers .. or nymphs .. babies .. What worked for me is a tea of 20-30 cigarette butts in a cup of water .. let sit in the sun a few days .. strain off the solids .. add another cup of water and 2 cups of rubbing alcohol to the cup of ciggy tea and place it in a spray bottle and soak your plants with it in the morning .. it has to be done over the course of a few weeks to insure you get all the crawlers ..
Since I sprayed my phal .. NO SCALE !
Best to spray it outside as the mixture isn't pleasant smelling
There is no reason to cut the leaf unless it is so unsightly and damaged that it needs to be cut ... you can treat the wounds with a bit of cinnamon as ivp6ready has already suggested

[snow]

i personally think a nursary that gives you that kind of advice, after selling a plant with scale, should not be in bussiness.
the least they could have done is replace the plant

[Singingirl96]

RETURN IT. Then buy another one somewhere else. Read about how to pick out a good plant before you go.

Make sure you look at the leaves ( they should be plump and firm), the roots should be light green/white, plump and not mushy. If the plant looks healthy buy it. If not resist the urge at all costs, even if the flowers are pretty... it'll be more of a headache than you bargained for. Trust me, been there, done that.

Return it and get a healthy plant.

[kavanaru]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

Thing about scale is that even if you scrape off all the adults you could still have crawlers .. or nymphs .. babies .. What worked for me is a tea of 20-30 cigarette butts in a cup of water .. let sit in the sun a few days .. strain off the solids .. add another cup of water and 2 cups of rubbing alcohol to the cup of ciggy tea and place it in a spray bottle and soak your plants with it in the morning .. it has to be done over the course of a few weeks to insure you get all the crawlers ..
Since I sprayed my phal .. NO SCALE !
Best to spray it outside as the mixture isn't pleasant smelling
There is no reason to cut the leaf unless it is so unsightly and damaged that it needs to be cut ... you can treat the wounds with a bit of cinnamon as ivp6ready has already suggested

Hi Dorothy,

I have a question... I know that nicotine is a very effective natural and cheap insecticide... (well, with current price of cigarettes I an mot sure anymore if cheap ) however, isn't you at risk of contaminating your plants with Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) preparingg your "tea" that way? TMV is very common even in cigarettes and cigars, so that some nurseries are very strict on not letting smokers go in and/or touch the plants (at least within the non-public areas where mother plants are). If you shortly boil the "tea mix" and then let it rest until cool, you should have killed all pottential viruses in the mix...

other very good natural insecticide (my favorite ) is Neem extract...
just my

[Dorothy]

Ah the TMV
I wouldn't suggest someone take up smoking for ciggie butts but if one does smoke .. they are readily available .. My phal hasn't gotten TMV ... yet ..
Check out this past thread where this has been addressed - Pests and Diseases
It also has other suggestions for the riddance of pests