Orchid collection dying

[tylerumn]

Hey guys and gals,

I'd like to thank everyone for their kind and helpful response. From what I've read, it seems the consensus is that I have mites on my orchids. I purchased some Neem II spray and hopefully it will take care of the problem.

A few months ago, my landlord informed me that I could not have a humidifier running "for any reason". I don't have time nor the inclination to argue with these people so I took it down and used water trays instead. I guess the water trays aren't doing a good enough job and I don't have any brilliant ideas at the moment.

In terms of lighting, I use a 400W HPS, perhaps it's sitting too close to my orchids right now. I'll raise the bulb a bit higher and see if that helps. Again, I really appreciate the helpful suggestions.

Happy holidays everybody,

- Tyler

[Daethen]

It's what we are all here for, Tyler. Good luck, I hope you can save them.

[Becca]

Well I am a little late with joining in on this conversation, but I agree that it is spider mites. I have been battling them for the last 6 months or so. I finally found a spray by Bayer that I have been using (Bayer Advanced 3-In-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control) and it seems to be helping. Give it a try...it is supposed to help control mites for 30 days and I have notices a difference!

[Gin]

Another thing you can do is wash the plants as often as you can or mist them in the am . mites do not like moisture .I grow in a green house and wash them down in the Am. when it is warm enough .
I treated my daughters plants for mites with Safers insect spray Lowes or Home Depot usually has it . basically it is soap, has to be done every 3rd day (short hatch cycle) for 3 weeks if you miss one egg they will be back . Even when you think they are gone check often .. Take no prisoners!

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

It might not just be a mite problem.

The potential for there being a mite problem is highly likely, but I'm looking at the more obvious thing first - your pot size to root mass ratio.

I haven't disagreed with the consensus as to what others have mentioned about the possibility of mites. I've added what may have been overlooked.

Please check for root damage to make sure root rot isn't contributing to your problems as well.

[Becca]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

It might not just be a mite problem.

The potential for there being a mite problem is highly likely, but I'm looking at the more obvious thing first - your pot size to root mass ratio.

I haven't disagreed with the consensus as to what others have mentioned about the possibility of mites. I've added what may have been overlooked.

Please check for root damage to make sure root rot isn't contributing to your problems as well.

[Anisa]

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

It might not just be a mite problem.

The potential for there being a mite problem is highly likely, but I'm looking at the more obvious thing first - your pot size to root mass ratio.

I haven't disagreed with the consensus as to what others have mentioned about the possibility of mites. I've added what may have been overlooked.

Please check for root damage to make sure root rot isn't contributing to your problems as well.

The spots on leaves don't look to me like a sort of damage that is connected with a root condition.

@tylerumn - good luck and I hope your collection wont die. I wonder why your landlord wont let you use humidifiers???

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Originally Posted by Anisa

The spots on leaves don't look to me like a sort of damage that is connected with a root condition.

I differ in opinion as to root rot not contributing to leaf blemishes. I've experienced leaf blemishes as a result of root damage.

Masdevallias and Disas are notorious for this. Particularly Disas.

With Disas, the leaf blemishes are easy to blame on mites, fungus, mechanical damage, etc. When the reality of it is, most of the leaf damage is caused by root damage - not just the fore-mentioned possibilities.

While I realize that these are Cattleyas, I don't think they're too much different in the above mentioned regard.

But in this case, I wasn't really looking at the blemishes. I saw the pot size in relation to the size of the plants themselves.

In one of the photos, the Cattleya only had 4 growths and the pot size seemed somewhat large for a plant that size.

I saw the blemsihes, and yeah, they're ugly. I felt everyone covered that already. And I agree with the mites problem.

But I also saw another problem waiting to happen, if it hasn't happened already...

Root rot may also be contributing to your collection's issues - again, not just the issue with mites.

It never hurts to check the roots for problems. You never know. Posting pics of the roots if you ["tuckerumn"] have concerns, would be helpful too. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask.

When diagnosing for problems, it's not always as simple as a one stop solution. At times, it is as simple as finding one problem that solves it all. But sometimes, you gotta figure out if there are multiple causalities to your problems too.

This is why diagnosing problems is a challenge.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Oh yeah, I think "orchidvalley" also mentioned too much light in one form or another, indirectly.

That's also something I would get a handle on too.

There is definite drastic lightening of the green in the leaves happening with some of these (chlorosis - aka bleaching).

So there...

Four or five issues to look at, not just one:

1. Mites.
2. Proper sun/lighting exposure.
3. Sunburn.
4. Proper pot size.
5. Root rot.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

Do you have pics of your Dens?