Dendrobium Tosca 039

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Hmmmm... my post disappeared. For now, be sure you keep it far from your other plants.

Many people would toss that plant in the trash, after sealing it in a plastic bag so the bugs don't get onto anything else.

Others would treat with a serious pesticide, something like imidacloprid or malathion.

I have killed scale by submerging the entire plant for 12 hours in water with a tiny amount of dish soap added - just enough to make a few bubbles when agitated. I would take it out of the medium if you do that, and throw away the medium. But don't do a soak until you've settled with the vendor - some plants with severe scale damage die quickly after a soak.

Do you think that I should try the soak? It is not a bad looking little plant other than the infection.

Or should I just discard this Dendrobium (looks as though the vendor doesn't want it sent back) in lieu of the fact I have started a brand new collection here and do not want to risk an outbreak?

[estación seca]

The safest would be to throw it away. If you want to try the soak, keep the plant in a different room. It can take scale several months to reveal themselves at typical indoor winter temperatures, so don't put the plant with your others unless it's growing strongly next spring, with no sign of scale.

Those are adult scale. Juveniles look something like cottony mealy bugs. Browse the Pests forum here to learn what they look like. You would likely notice them first in crevices near where leaves meet stem.

The vendor could not have failed to see the scale when boxing your plant. I wonder whether their business model relies on newbie customers not knowing what scale is, and being willing to accept a few refunds?

[katrina]

Scale, once it gets a hold, can be quite difficult to eradicate and it can pop up when you least expect it. Since this is a new plant and certainly not a rare or hard to find plant...if it were me in your position...I would pitch that plant.

I agree w/Estacion...there is no way the seller didn't see THAT when the plant was packaged up. Now this is either a case of complete disregard for customer satisfaction or the seller doesn't know what scale is and either scenario would dictate that I never buy from this person again.

If the seller doesn't want it back then pitch it and ask for your money back. I probably wouldn't accept a replacement plant from this seller for the very reason I just mentioned.

BTW - if the seller wants the plant back then I would expect him/her to pay for it or I'd contact eBay and let them know an obviously infected plant was sent. I've never had something this happen but I'm sure eBay has regulations regarding sending pest infested plants. Hell, eBay always bends to the side of the buyer so just let the seller know you'll be notifying ebay and I'm sure your problem will go away very quickly.

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by katrina

Scale, once it gets a hold, can be quite difficult to eradicate and it can pop up when you least expect it. Since this is a new plant and certainly not a rare or hard to find plant...if it were me in your position...I would pitch that plant.

I agree w/Estacion...there is no way the seller didn't see THAT when the plant was packaged up. Now this is either a case of complete disregard for customer satisfaction or the seller doesn't know what scale is and either scenario would dictate that I never buy from this person again.

If the seller doesn't want it back then pitch it and ask for your money back. I probably wouldn't accept a replacement plant from this seller for the very reason I just mentioned.

BTW - if the seller wants the plant back then I would expect him/her to pay for it or I'd contact eBay and let them know an obviously infected plant was sent. I've never had something this happen but I'm sure eBay has regulations regarding sending pest infested plants. Hell, eBay always bends to the side of the buyer so just let the seller know you'll be notifying ebay and I'm sure your problem will go away very quickly.

$ Refund made. Pitched. Do not really think he is sending a clean plant as he stated anyway!

---------- Post added at 10:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

The safest would be to throw it away.

Advice well taken. I cannot afford the time or wait out the results while risking my new collection to a plant that someone purposely tried to sabotage me with for whatever reason. A quick $ ??

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by estación seca

3 negative reviews out of 1,443. Would you do as well with the people you've dated? And maybe those are from competitors who bought a cheap plant so they could post a negative review.

Guess I did better with those I dated. Should have stuck with my gut aye?

---------- Post added at 10:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:41 PM ----------

Originally Posted by estación seca

The plant obviously is infested with a lot of scale insects. Keep it far away from other plants. These are bad.

It would also be good if you go to the Vendor Feedback forum here, post the photo and name the vendor.

done.

[AnonYMouse]

You could have kept it outside if you had a bright sheltered location. You would have to treat it regularly but you could have kept it.

[charlesf6]

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

You could have kept it outside if you had a bright sheltered location. You would have to treat it regularly but you could have kept it.

I live in NY.