Is this scale or mealybug, and what should I do?

[estación seca]

Plain immersion in barely soapy water at room temperature for 4-12 hours works. It's my treatment of choice. Cacti frequently reach much higher temperatures when the sun is shining on them. Orchids don't. I wouldn't risk those temperatures.

[Grim Tuesday]

Good to know, I don't even have to buy a sous vide then! I did some more digging on the idea of heat treatment and a publication from the University of Hawaii said that one needs to get to 120 to kill mealybugs, but orchids (they tested dendrobium and oncidium) get damaged around 109 deg. So it looks like that will not be an option. Soapy water for a longer time is looking like it will be the move. I'd like to try that before I resort to pesticides, just because of the whole cat plant munchers problem.

[estación seca]

I was going to pot up some Epiphyllum cuttings yesterday. I saw that two had scale insects on them that had multiplied drastically in the month since I took the cuttings, although I saw no scale on the parent plants. I soaked the cuttings overnight in 1 gallon pitchers of water with a little soap. I just finished using an old toothbrush to remove the dead scale from the cuttings. I will let them dry a few hours and pot them.

[Grim Tuesday]

Here's a question for you guys. I mostly have my mealybugs under control. Affected plants quarantined, sprayed whenever I see any mealybug evidence. Usually one plant every few weeks. Heavily affected plants put outside. I noticed this on a plant that was not a part of the original "outbreak," and was not nearby the most affected plants. No evidence of any actual mealybugs themselves, but it does have this white substance that looks kinda mealy-related. And the bloom of this plant, an epidendrum nocturnum, has blasted. The second bud blast I've had with this plant in six months, quite frustrating. But anyways, the real question is: is this mealybug stuff or is there something else that can cause this?

[Dimples]

That doesn’t look like MBs, but I personally treat every plant when I find MBs on anything. They can travel long distances and can survive long periods without eating, so I always assume they’re “everywhere” if they’re found in the house.

[Roberta]

As far as the flowers blasting... some Epi. nocturnum self-pollinate easily, sometimes even before opening. That predisposition is genetic. So grab your photos when it opens. And if it keeps doing that, try getting another plant and hope it is better-behaved. I don't think it's predictable.

[Dimples]

Originally Posted by Roberta

As far as the flowers blasting... some Epi. nocturnum self-pollinate easily…

Do most orchid flowers immediately start to fade after pollination? I’ve never thought about pollination’s impact on bloom longevity, since any flowers on crops are typically short-lived even if they don’t get pollinated.

Actually, Roberta, any chance you could move this comment to a new thread? This brought up a few more questions but the topic is straying too far. I’ll link back to this thread for posterity. Maybe put it in advanced discussions?

[Roberta]

I could start a new thread... yes, as soon as an orchid flower is pollinated, it fades. The comment though was in direct response to a comment in a post.. not sure where to split it.