Orchid Newbie--Thrips on my Phal?

[Ana_BananaTree]

Hi Everyone!

I just got my first orchid about two weeks ago, it's a Phalaenopsis. This is also my first houseplant, so I'm really a plant and orchid newbie, and could use some help.

My Phal has two spikes that are both in full bloom. When I got it there were about 4 blooms and many buds. There have been no problems, but this morning I noticed that on some of the new blooms there are tiny, thin black bugs and I think they are sucking the juice out of the new blooms. I think they might be thrips, since I haven't noticed any other symptoms, such as stickiness on the leaves, etc. Is there some way I can get rid of them without having to cut the spikes? Can I spray the blooms with something? I have a natural water/soap/cinnamon bug spray, but I'm not sure it will work on thrips. So far, I have noticed maybe 3 or 4 on the outer edge of the blooms where the damage is.

This is a great board with lots of helpful information. Thank you!

[Izzie]

Spray as many off with water as you can, or spray with an oil/soap solution. You can try dousing with Neem oil after that. I've heard of people having success with a 409 solution.

Member Ray has some good home remedies:
First Rays' Home Remedies

[Ana_BananaTree]

Thanks for the advice, Izzy. I sprayed all the blooms with water and got a lot of the bugs off that way. Then I went over each one with a Q-tip to dry it and check for more bugs and remove them by hand. I sprayed the stems and the leaves with my soap/water/cinnamon solution.

Should I still spray the whole plant with neem oil or oil/soap solution, blooms and everything? Also, where do thrips come from? Are they somewhere in my apartment, or were they most likely on the orchid when I brought it home?

Thanks again for the advice.