Tiny white fuzzy bugs on me Phal!

[Lexyfly]

it think they might be aphids,but I am not sure. I keep getting rid of them and they keep reappering! Can anyone tell me how to get rid of them? I have 2 Phals and they ae on both of them. One of the phals in in the prosses of overcomming root rot. So this is just adding more stress to my poor baby! I have added some pictures of the bugs on the leaves of on of me orchids. They are on the rest of the plant too. Just not the roots. Please HELP!

[Allycatz]

Hey Lexy,

I believe those are mealybugs (aka: wooly aphids) that you have on your orchids.

As far as I know they often appear when the air is too dry. They are kind of a pain to get rid of because the can hide in so many nooks, crannies and folds of the plant and their young aren't always easy to see (little yellow spots). Plus their eggs can be well hidden in the roots.

I actually just recently destroyed mealybugs that had set up camp on one of my reed orchids. I immediately repotted and used a damp paper towel to physically remove visible ones and then ran a clean damp paper towel over every nook and cranny of the orchid. I haven't noticed the return of any since (fingers crossed!).

In one of my orchid books they say you can also use an alcohol and dish detergent solution, but I have never tried this method. Perhaps another reader has!

Anyway here is what the text I have says:

Spirits-Soap Solution for Scale and Mealybugs
Dissolve 1 tablespoon of soft soap or a strong squirt of dish-washing detergent in some warm water. Add 1 qt (1 L) of water and 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol. Dip a brush in the solution and dab the scale or wooly webs with it. Or spray the whole plant with it, not forgetting the undersides of the leaves. Rinse tender-leaved plants after 15 minutes with clear, lukewarm water to diminish injury from burning.

I've heard of people also using neem oil in an alcohol and dish detergent solution, but again, have no personal experience with this.

[Lexyfly]

Thanks for your help!