Multiple problems going on here?? Pics. - Orchid Board

greenpassion · #1 09-20-2011, 01:14 PM

In all my obsession over set up, water, etc, I am now focusing on what wrong with my phals. I have submitted several pics, from my phone so I apoligize for the poor quality-but I think I may have scale, and possibly disease?? I have Organicide but am not sure what these plants have, and if Organicide will do the trick.

help

:nail bite:

Leafmite · #2 09-20-2011, 02:14 PM

It looks like something enjoyed a little orchid salad!
The oncidium might be dried out, maybe due to root rot? I have mine in lava rock because they always looked like that when I had them in moss or bark. I have nearly everything in lava rock because my house stays rather cool in the winter and I never did figure out watering in bark or moss. I'm not certain about the other ones. Hopefully someone can help you.
Leafmite

Leafmite · #3 09-20-2011, 02:16 PM

Oh, if it is scale, it will wipe off with cotton balls and rubbing alcohol. Sometimes, though, phals get other bumps but I am not sure what causes them.
Leafmite

silken · #4 09-20-2011, 02:46 PM

It's a little hard to tell from the photos. The big chunks out of your leaves are something like slugs or mice or a veggie eating pest, but not scale. Some of the spots look possibly like a bit of rot or bacterial spots to me. Scale are round little raised bumps. I have dealt with them twice. Mine were brown bumps mostly on leaf undersides but some on top. The females lay eggs under their protective shell so they are very hard to eradicate. If they scrape off and are small and round it is likely scale. They also get into cracks and crevices where they are hard to see and get. If so, isolate those plants ASAP. This is a nasty pest. You can wipe off and treat those you can see with alcohol. But I would spray the plant with something to get into the crevices. And it should be treated weekly to get the babies as they hatch. sometimes you will see a bit of white fuzzy stuff. I forget, they are either the young or the males. Hope that helps.

greenpassion · #5 09-21-2011, 09:14 AM

I also wonder about the wrinkled psuedo bulbs on the oncidiums, which is a seperate issue I think. Leafmite (interesting name) mentioned growing in lava rocks. I need to look into that. Anyway, thank you guys for your immediate and useful help, not to mention polite tolerance for a newbie such as myself.

silken · #6 09-21-2011, 11:53 AM

Wrinkled pseudobulbs usually mean it isn't getting enough water. So that could be from lack of moisture being applied, or bad roots due to root rot which aren't able to take up the water.

That being said, older pseudobulbs usually do have some degree of wrinkling and the newest ones are usually plump (for me anyways). If you haven't recently checked, you may want to check the roots on that one. Only the new growths will grow new roots and when that is happening is when re-potting should take place if it is needed.