BUGS IN MY PHAL - Orchid Board

Amanda L · #1 05-22-2009, 04:09 PM

I was soaking one of my best growing phals yesterday and noticed, when I pulled it out the water, that there were small little bugs crawling all over the medium. They are not on the leaves, or any of the other plants. They look kind of silvery and are extremely small, so I won't be able to get pictures of them. They don't seem to be affecting the health of the plant, but I want them gone. If it helps I have seen some gnats flying around my orchids lately. Please help me get rid of these nasties. I know that my medium is not bad, it is only about 3-4 months old. If there is a natural, safe way to get rid of them, that's all the better. Thanks!

I have attached pictures of the plant and roots. I tried to get pictures of the bugs, but they are too small and fast for me to get them.

kinknstein · #2 05-22-2009, 04:57 PM

I wonder if they might be Pill Bugs, try googling it, might help, might not...

RosieC · #3 05-22-2009, 05:23 PM

That sounds a bit like Springtails to me, and if so they are harmless.

Take a look at this link from the Royal Horticultural sociaty. There is a pic on their page which may help confirm if that's what they are.

Royal Horticultural Society - Gardening Advice: Springtails

Springtails are extreamly small and are most noticable when you water your plant, when they can often be seen jumping about on the surface of the water.

At the end of their page they say...

"These are harmless creatures that feed on fungal growth and decaying plant material. They are dependent on damp conditions and so will not spread away from pot plants or become a nuisance in the home."

I've got them on several of my non-orchid plants and I've seen them on one of the orchids until I repotted that one.

kiki-do · #4 05-22-2009, 05:27 PM

That is good to know! I've seen these guys in a couple of my plants, and thought they were some mealybug babies or something. Made me a little nervous, so I keep an eye on those plants. But nothing has happened. Great piece of info. Thanks!

RosieC · #5 05-22-2009, 05:30 PM

The link above also gives some advice on telling the difference between these and mealybugs.

"That sap-feeding type of pest [mealybugs] is relatively immobile in the soil compared with the much more active springtails.

The latter [springtails] also has a pair of antennae visible on the insect's head, whereas those on mealybugs are microscopic."

Amanda L · #6 05-22-2009, 05:36 PM

That's good to know. My only problem is I can only see that something is moving and has a silvery color when the light hits them. There are quite a few of them.

RosieC · #7 05-22-2009, 05:44 PM

If they are moving about on the water, even jumping ocasionally then I think they are likely to be the springtails.

Of course I can't be 100% but it does sound like it.

Amanda L · #8 05-22-2009, 05:51 PM

I haven't seen them jump at all.

RosieC · #9 05-22-2009, 06:08 PM

I've not seen them jump every time I've seen them.

The ones I've seen jumping were actually on the surface of the water while it was soaking. I think they were trying to get off the water.

Anyway, it's difficult to say because it's so difficult to get pics of them.

Here is another link of the Royal Horticultural Sociaty about mealy bugs.

Royal Horticultural Society - Gardening Advice: Mealybugs

Amanda L · #10 05-22-2009, 06:21 PM

Hopefully that's all they are. If they are still around and they probably will be, next time I soak my phal, I will see if I can get a picture then. I don't want to drown my plant just to get a picture of some stupid bugs. Thanks for the help Rosie!