OMG; Diagnosed thrip problem

[CR7cristiano]

The reddish brown on the leaves is traces of cinnamon I was trying to see if that would work.

[Paul Mc]

Yup, that's been my issue and I've been treating with cinnamon extract, dish soap and alcohol. Oops... Guess it's time for the heavy artillery!!! Thanks for those pics!

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

Damn it man. They spread to the new forming leaf too. No wonder only one of the two seemed only to be growing. Its like the other of the two leaves the phal is sending out has stopped growing.

I have had thrips problems but the damage you show looks different. I haven't had problems with mites but I am guessing that you may have a mite problem.

If it is mites then imidacloprid is not likely to help. There are some claims that some synthetic pyrethroids such as tau-fluvalinate or bifenthrin have some efficacy against mites but otherwise you need a mite specific product (because mites are not insects).

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by DavidCampen

I have had thrips problems but the damage you show looks different. I haven't had problems with mites but I am guessing that you may have a mite problem.

If it is mites then imidacloprid is not likely to help. There are some claims that some synthetic pyrethroids such as tau-fluvalinate or bifenthrin have some efficacy against mites but otherwise you need a mite specific product (because mites are not insects).

You are sure about this? Because from the document I read Thips leave a silver gray patches/areas on leaves. And that they cause some deformation of growing leaves. What sort of damage do mites leave pray tell?

[Gage]

Mite damage on Phal leaves starts out as pitting on the underside, and usually progresses to a silvery sand-blasted look which eventually shows on the surface. If there are mites present, you should have no trouble finding them with a white paper towel. Thrips are more elusive. I've never had thrips damage on my Phals though, they always go after my Vanda roots and buds.

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by Gage

Mite damage on Phal leaves starts out as pitting on the underside, and usually progresses to a silvery sand-blasted look which eventually shows on the surface. If there are mites present, you should have no trouble finding them with a white paper towel. Thrips are more elusive. I've never had thrips damage on my Phals though, they always go after my Vanda roots and buds.

Aaah. Well I am gonna carry a piece of the damaged leaf to the farm store to also let the owner see himself. So you are saying its mites? I swear when I wiped with paper towel I saw nothing yellow...just some black stuff (droppings maybe). I will try again tho. So if it is mites then what is solution in that instance?

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by CR7cristiano

You are sure about this? Because from the document I read Thips leave a silver gray patches/areas on leaves. And that they cause some deformation of growing leaves. What sort of damage do mites leave pray tell?

See the third photo in the mite section:

Orchid Pests

[CR7cristiano]

Originally Posted by DavidCampen

See the third photo in the mite section:

Orchid Pests

I'll be damned! That photo looks exactly like it. And also to confirm after wiping w/ white paper towel I saw tiny specs of smudges w/ a yellow w/ brownish tinge. Ugh!
Now how do I eradicate & prevent &/or control.

Thanks much guys!! And Paul; it seems your problem is also mites! Let's get it rectified!

[Paul Mc]

Well, I've treated mine over and over again for mites, and the issue doesn't go away. Last year I had a huge break out of Mites on some of my plants, so I know what it looks like and how to rectify it. Unfortunately, this situation looks nothing like the last one. The silver markings for me are cracked and elevated. It's like looking at the surface of the moon, but silver dust colored. I've treated over and over again, and it still progresses. I'm convinced that what I'm seeing continuing to spread on this one is something other than mites. Guess ill keep searching, lol...

[DavidCampen]

Here is a good article:
http://www.staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Johnson-Mites.pdf

If you don't have a lot of plants then you can try treating by hand and avoid the use of ascaricides.
Clean the leaves of the plants at the kitchen sink using water with a few drops of liquid dishwahing soap then spray with a strong stream of water; this will mechanically remove a lot of the mites, you should do this at least a couple of times a week. You can also try wiping with 70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, do not use any other type of alcohol.

If this doesn't work or you have a large collection then you will have to consider chemical ascaricides. Unfortunately these are hard to find in small consumer quantities, Avid (avermectin) may be available in small bottles at hydroponics stores or ebay. Bifenthrin and tau-fluvalinate are synthetic pyrethroids that may have some use as ascaricides and may be available in consumer products. Bayer 3-in-1 contains tau-fluvalinate but it also contains a systemic fungicide that can be phytotoxic.

Edit:
In a large greenhouse there are also biological controls that can be usefull.