Orchid flower spike has what looks like limescale?

[tamsinodile]

Hi, first time poster, as after searching the Internet I can't work out what is wrong with my orchid!

The flower spike was growing beautifully, but now has what looks like limescale. It reminds me of how E.T. looked when he got sick!

Can anyone help identify the problem? Thank you!

[Mountaineer370]

First, welcome to the Orchid Board! It's really hard for me to tell from the photo whether the whitish areas are something sticking to the surface of the spike, or some kind of scraping damage from an external source. Are there any animals that could have gotten to the plant?

I've grown Phals for almost ten years now and I've never seen anything like that, but I'll be the first to admit there are other members here with far more experience and knowledge than myself. Hopefully, a few of them will chime in here.

What does the rest of the plant look like? Any signs of stress or damage to the leaves or roots?

[tamsinodile]

Hi Cheri! I have no pets, and the plant is on a windowsill so not brushed past. The rest of the plant is healthy, though there is similar white residue on one of the leaves, but the plant doesn't seem bothered by that bit. I will try and add some more photos.

[estación seca]

I've never seen spider mite damage on Phal. stems, but it looks like that on other plants' stems. I would spray with 70% alcohol or insecticidal soap.

[camille1585]

Though I've never seen this on flower spikes, one of my first thoughts was thrips. The damage pattern is very similar to what you'd see on leaf or floral tissues. The marks you see on the leaf could also be explained by thrips. They hide down in the crown and suck on young leaf tissue, and when the leaf further emerges the damage looks like whitish scars, often in a V shape across the leaf surface. Is there anything visible on the top side of the leaf?

It could also be spider mites as ES suggested.

Either way, an insecticidal soap or wiping down with rubbing alcohol should help, though repeated applications are likely necessary.

[WaterWitchin]

Yup, looks "buggy" to me. I'd use rubbing alcohol just because it's always my first go-to. As Camille says, you'll have to be vigilant. Second choice would be a systemic. Or both.

[Clawhammer]

I have had phalaenopsis mites (false red spider mites) that were obsessed with my phal stems