Not an Orchid-but can anyone help?

[justatypn]

Hopefully this will help. Take a stroll to the bottom of the page, click the hyperlink, see if it's not something of the nature your speaking of...

Bromeliad Biota - Pests - Scale Insects

[(..._...)]

I just looked at the link
YUCK!! I had no idea that they are alive!?! I just pick off the occasional one, and its all crusty, and is filled with power... but I read that they molt their mouths and feet!!?? yuck!!

Interesting link though

[Pippin]

If it's scale(and it seems to be), grab the big guns (Merit, Orthene, etc...) and take no prisoners.
A magnifier glass can help you to identify what you're dealing with.
If in doubt shoot first, ask later.

[justatypn]

It is a bit on the gross side, but scale is like rust never sleeps....Pippin your to funny and oh so right.

[Rothie]

Cheryl-
Thanks so much for the link.I have narrowed it down to 2 types,and I'm 80% sure of the first one.The treatment is the same for both.I'm going to have to quarrantine this plant out in the yard somewhere by itself till it's healthy again.
Thanks again,
Sue

[susiep]

That's a really pretty bloom Rothie. I have quite a few in my yard as landscaping but just the big, wide leaf ones with the one tall cone flower in reds or yellows. I love to look in them after a rain when they are full of water. Many times there are creatures like tree frogs in them enjoying a cool bath. I have a few of the skinny leaved ones with the big paddle type shoot with the little blue flowers. Those are nice, too. (I don't know the names of the bromiliads) But yours is very different and much prettier.

King, we have lots of what we call "wild pines" here. As in pineapple. That is what they look like. They like trees with rough bark like oaks. They really can take root and cover the branches. They can get big and have tall shooting bloom spikes but the flowers are not usually fantastic (as are orchids). These same trees are covered with resurrection ferns which can go from looking dead to like a lush carpet after one heavy rain storm. These are not the kinds of plants you find in newer residential neighborhoods. (though I have seen wild pines in the mahogany trees here) But in older areas like Coconut Grove, Coral Gables or in parks and hammocks scattered around the county you only have to look up to see an incredible amount of these plants and all kinds of creatures. To me they are awesome!

[Rothie]

susiep-
I don't know where it originates from-other than my neighbors yard when I lived in Ft.Lauderdale.I have never seen anything like it.It's a shade lover and blooms in winter.I think it likes the cold-the blooms are really nice on cold days.I leave it outside even when it freezes at night for a few hours.It appears healthy even though its covered in scale.It's pretty indestructable-my kind of plant!

[BikerDoc5968]

Hey, King, move to Florida and you'll see lots of scale...and not the weight kind! That looks like Florida Red Scale. Those little round guys are the adults and underneath are the pups. The adults stick and stay while at the right time the pups mature and migrate hense the other black dots on the leaves. You can use an oil base insecticide designed to be used on plants that will suffocate the little critters or go to a local HomeDepot or Lowes and ask them...thet're pretty good....sometimes

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EDISImagePa...195&tag=FIGURE 6&credits=

[Rothie]

Thanks,Biker-
I started treating with Ortho Malathion Plus last week.I don't think the pups can be affected until they come out from under the adults.?Would Neem oil be a good treatment?

[BikerDoc5968]

That's what I was thinking about...not sure if it will work, but you could ask someone at the store at which you purchase it