New Phal with unidentified pest problems

[Sparkles2015]

I bought this Phal on impulse at a nursery about two weeks ago. Since then I have noticed a few small problems, including clear neglect by its previous care-taker as many of the roots have constricted sections and the leaves are not flat. However, the most pressing issue is the tiny bugs I have seen crawling in the medium and when disturbed they move to the leaves too. I have attached two pictures of some damage to the leaves I found. I also was able to photo one of the small buggers, it doesn't look like anything I've seen. I took a longer range shot to show relative size, they are really small!
I have sprayed the leaves with an rubbing alcohol mix and wiped them with some diluted dish detergent to no avail. Any suggestions would be appreciated, thanks!!!

[Eyebabe]

I would return the plant as my first choice.

Second, not sure about the bugs. They are pretty small...looking similar to springtails which do not harm the plant. These bugs stay in the media and move pretty fast.

Fungus gnat larva also stay close to the media.

If they were spider mites, you would see some "webbing" type material and they would crawl slowly up the plant.

Neem Oil spray and/or Safer Soap will kill the latter two. Springtails are tough to get rid of...repotting the plant in fresh media is a start.

They do not look like scale or mealies thank goodness!

[quiltergal]

I agree, I think they are Springtails too. When they show up it's long past time to repot.

[Sparkles2015]

Thanks so much for the prompt replies! I will probably hang on to the plant since the bug isn't anything to lose sleep over. Is it ok to repot a Phal when it's in bloom or should I wait till the flowers drop?

[orchidsamore]

You can always re-pot Phals in bloom without any serious danger to the flowers. Just be gentle with the roots.

Most of the Phals shipped to big box stores are re-potted right before delivery often re-potting in a larger pot to improve sales.

Here is a safe homemade solution to handle does bugs

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10 drops dish soap
1.8 ml cinnamon extract (about 1/2 tsp.)
2 cups tepid water

soak the whole pot in the solution and the bugs will come floating out dead. Neem oil is not especially effective on bugs in the medium.

[Sparkles2015]

Nice, thanks Jerry, I have never heard of that remedy I'm on it right now!