Phalaenopsis orange growth on flower, insect or fungus?

[kristenrose]

Hello. I have been growing orchids for about three years now. Somehow, I have been lucky enough to have all healthy plants. I purchased a new plant and it has grown little orange balls on the flowers/buds, has withering buds (and a couple withering flowers, but most seem ok), some black spots on the leaves/base of the leaves, and while some roots are still green, some look rather unhealthy. I attached pictures down below.

Can anyone help identify what is wrong with the plant/a treatment?

Would this be bacteria or insects? **I have not actually seen any insects on the plant.

The environment of the orchid is indirect sun and cool, not humid temperatures if that helps.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[murph7]

Not an expert, but in the first picture I see two blasted flower buds with one showing the two pollinia.

[kristenrose]

You are right Murph7. Thank you, I had never seen that before on any of my orchids.

[Arizona Jeanie]

Oh Wow, cool picture of pollinia without a flower! The other pictures look to me like wear and tear, plus maybe some old insect damage. I'd keep this plant well isolated for awhile, just to be sure.

[Ray]

You are seeing the results of slugs or snails.

Time for a molluscicide to scatter around the plants.

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Ray

You are seeing the results of slugs or snails.

Time for a molluscicide to scatter around the plants.

I was thinking something along those lines as well. Your plants are being chewed. A lot of the damage is very like that caused by mice on my plants.

[kristenrose]

Thanks so much for all the advise. Would pests cause the buds to whither as well or would that be unrelated?

[Ray]

The first one wasn't withered, it was eaten.

[Roberta]

I'd put my money on slugs or snails... rodents love pollen, so pollinia would be eaten first if it was mice or rats. Slugs especially can sneak in from any place - another plant, or eggs hiding in the media or... I have plants that are hanging, not touching anything, and find slugs on them. I think that slugs fly when we're not looking...

[estación seca]

Cool and dry is not a recipe for success with most Phals. They like to be warm. People get them to survive for a while at cooler temperatures but it is a crapshoot.