Donate Now
and become
Forum Supporter.
Many perks!
<...more...>
|
03-26-2011, 03:20 PM
|
|
Jr. Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2011
Zone: 7a
Location: Northern Virginia
Age: 37
Posts: 3
|
|
I think those blooms would make me temporarily lose my mind also. Good luck with your extermination operation!
|
03-26-2011, 03:46 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Living in Finland.
Posts: 180
|
|
Paul and phalaephila -> That is actually a real good point. hmm.. I guess I got so carried away in my killing spree that I didn't stop to consider the benefit of having spiders around. 
Has any one come across people purposefully putting spiders into orchid growing areas to catch other pests?
silken -> See this is the bit that confused me: I saw a normal big black spider, but the cobwebs in the first 2 pictures look to me more like spider mite webs. So it may be that I have both spiders and spider mites..  |
03-26-2011, 05:57 PM
|
 |
Administrator
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: middle of the Netherlands
Posts: 13,777
|
|
There's bugs, and then there's pests. I would have bought that orchid too! BUT those spiders were harmless to your plants. But they're not nice to have around indoors, so I would have put the spiders outside. 
I'm slightly wary of your plant for another reason. The streaking on the blooms might be color break from virus. But I'm not sure, since I don't know if there are Phals out there that are bred to look like that.
__________________
Camille
Completely orchid obsessed and loving every minute of it....
My Orchid Photos
|
03-26-2011, 07:19 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Living in Finland.
Posts: 180
|
|
camille1585 -> You know what! You are probably right! sigh.. It had to be too good to be true. 
I remember reading "Can cold weather change Phal bloom color?" http://www.orchidboard.com/community...oom-color.html last month and it looks like the same thing.. Doesn't it? 
Maybe it has the color break virus?
So out of all the orchids I could have gone for I chose the one that had spiders, spider mites, gnats and also a virus. MAN! I really did through all caution aside, didn't I?  |
03-26-2011, 07:27 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Living in Finland.
Posts: 180
|
|
shanahoo -> Thank you for your kind words! and welcome to OB! I hope you'll have some better luck in picking your orchids. And I look forward to seeing you around on the board. |
03-26-2011, 07:31 PM
|
|
Administrator
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: middle of the Netherlands
Posts: 13,777
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by PinkCloud
So out of all the orchids I could have gone for I chose the one that had spiders, spider mites, gnats and also a virus. MAN! I really did through all caution aside, didn't I? |
I've done that before too. Bought a gorgeous Phal that had mealies (I saw them even before buying it) but I just couldn't pass up the plant. I'm glad to have this Phal, but I've been constantly battling mealies in my entire collection for nearly 3 years now. Now I have it down to the pont where I spot a few random mealies here or there, but if I don't come down on them hard they'll get out of hand again.
__________________
Camille
Completely orchid obsessed and loving every minute of it....
My Orchid Photos
|
03-26-2011, 07:56 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2009
Zone: 5a
Location: Kansas City, MO
Age: 66
Posts: 4,773
|
|
For my 2 cents: I have the same idea as Camille on the color break but it could be normal breeding. I think the flowers are pretty and the overall health of the plant looks great. I'd keep it isolated from the others in your collection at least until after the next bloom cycle and just enjoy the plant.
Joann
|
03-26-2011, 11:50 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: edmonton, alberta
Posts: 874
|
|
I agree with Joann. I have done the same thing, but fortunately kept my plant isolated. Good thing too - it had some scale, and even after thorough cleaning, it came back occasionally. As for the color break - it's very pretty, but unless you have proper identification for this plant, I wouldn't trust it. Enjoy the flowers, but make sure that the plant does not contaminate any of your other orchids.
You may have a pretty bargain after all.
Lize
|
03-27-2011, 11:06 AM
|
 |
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2006
Zone: 5b
Location: So. Mo.
Posts: 3,324
|
|
I keep a couple of spider webs in the green house in the corner good knat catchers . On Phals. I check for spider mites (no webs) by running a wet tissue under and over the leaves to check for orangish smears if you see that it is spider mites they love Phals . will suck the life out of them . Regular spiders are welcome ( to a degree) lolol
|
03-27-2011, 06:43 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Living in Finland.
Posts: 180
|
|
camille1585 -> What do you use to combat against mealies? As I still have under 20 orchids I'm able to give them a little more time and care. So hopefully I will be up for the fight!
Zoi2 and ezil -> I think I'll do as yous suggest and just keep this plant away from the rest and see how long it lasts. If the virus breaks out on the leaves I'll toss it. But right now it seems to be only affecting the blooms.. (plus there was one pink root.. hmm.. could be the virus?) So I'll just enjoy it for the full £3.20 I payed for it!
Gin -> Yes. Definitely to a degree! LOL  I'm not a fan of spiders... as I suppose one might have gathered by now! |
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:42 AM.
|
Linear Mode
