My First Round w/ Mealy Bugs

[Becca]

Hi Everyone!

I just received a couple of paph hybrids from my local orchid society meeting a week or two ago. The bottom leaves weren't looking so wonderful so today I decided to give them a good look over and unpot them. The roots were so so, but upon a closer look, I found some mealy bugs in the deep crevices of the lower leaves next the the stem (I can't think of the technical term at this moment, leaf axis?). I cut off the leaves that were starting to look bad, but I noticed mealy bugs in the next set of leaves. My question is, if I treat the mealy bugs and try and get the insecticide into the deep parts where they are hiding, will I risk having problems with stem rot?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Crown rot (aka "Stem Rot" ) is not a result of insecticide use. It is also not the result of the use of alcohol as a method for getting rid of mealies.

Crown rot is caused by a fungal infection that usually involves water being trapped in the leaf axils and the air didn't dry it up fast enough.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

By the way, crown rot can and usually does accompany root rot.

[Becca]

Hi and thanks for the reply! I ended up figuring out I wouldn't have any of the issues I was concerned with, however, them dang mealies are hard to get rid of! I treated them again two days ago and still found a crawler on one of the 'chids that I was treating. How far do I need to keep these three from the others? I have them on a plant stand with two levels, some of my healthy orchids are on the bottom, and the three with the mealies are on the top, is that far enough?