triple stack of pests- normal treatment or something more

[DirtyCoconuts]

so this is really odd- i was gifted this plant and inspected it well when i received it and it was quite clean and no visible pests.

i potted it up and put it with the rest of the onc types and was delighted that it was only a few months until it spiked


spike was progressing well and then i looked at her today and YUCK. i see ants (normal), scale (none of my other plants have any) and these little white things.

I removed it from the lath house and was going to unpot it and do a pesticide soak and then what?

repot, keep it bare root for a few days to do successive soaks?

i have VERY little experience with any orchid pests (thank goodness) so i don't want to over react nor do i want more pests....

thanks in advance (click to the image and then zoom in once to see clearly


Canna by J Solo, on Flickr

[Fairorchids]

My go-to for the odd infection is a spray bottle with rubbing alcohol (ideally with a couple of drops of dish detergent added).

[DirtyCoconuts]

Thanks, Kim!
What kind of dilution?

I have 99.9% iso so even I can do the math lol

[estación seca]

Those look like shed aphid exoskeletons. They are in the environment outside. They like inflorescences of many kinds of flowers.

70% alcohol is good.

[DirtyCoconuts]

I made a solution of 4:1 99.9% iso and water with some drops of pledge too

I sprayed the spike liberally and kept the orchid off the shelf for now.


I’ll relocate a few ladybugs to it later to help out

[WaterWitchin]

I use straight 70% alcohol. No water.

Pledge? Are ya dusting them DC?

[DirtyCoconuts]

hahahaha i meant Palmolive hahaha.

you have discovered my familiarity with cleaning products

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 AM ----------

also, isn't 4:1 99.9% iso and water like the same as %80 ISO, approximately?

[WaterWitchin]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

hahahaha i meant Palmolive hahaha.

you have discovered my familiarity with cleaning products

---------- Post added at 09:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 AM ----------

also, isn't 4:1 99.9% iso and water like the same as %80 ISO, approximately?

You are asking ME about math and ratios?!?

[DirtyCoconuts]

as i typed it i was laughing...its like when my four year old asks me how to spell something....

[WaterWitchin]

Exactamente!