White bugs in my medium

[Imokira]

I found some white bugs crawling around my oncidium orchids roots and medium. Online it shows mealy bugs, but they didn't really look like the pictures. The leaves also aren't turning yellow, they are turning black and crunchy. I was going to report it today, but does anyone know what these bugs could be so I know how to treat my orchid?

[Roberta]

Can you post a photo? Click on Go Advanced, and scroll down to Manage Attachments.

[Imokira]

This is what the plant looked like today before I repotted it. I wasn't able to get a picture of the bugs. I didn't see them when I was repotting, but sprayed the entire plant with 50/50 alcohol and water anyways. There surisingly weren't many dead roots and in facts the plant was very root bound and it took me forever to get the root loosened to get the medium cleaned out.

[Roberta]

Cleaning it up (fresh medium) is likely to get rid of whatever it was, but do watch over the next few weeks. If the bugs were crawling, not likely to be mealybugs... those look like a cottony mass. But if see more bugs after repotting, it is probably time for a proper insecticide. (Repeated weekly for about 3 weeks) So just watch it and keep it away from your other plants, if they come back you don't want them espanding their territory.

[estación seca]

The commonest whitish bugs in decaying medium are springtails.

[Imokira]

Originally Posted by estación seca

The commonest whitish bugs in decaying medium are springtails.

Are they of concern in orchids?

[estación seca]

Not much to the plant. But, they feed mostly on decaying organic matter, meaning the potting medium is likely breaking down, and it's time to repot.

[Imokira]

Oh good! Hopefully repotting it helps it and it starts to do better.