White Mildew? Yellowing leaves on New Growth, Help!

[alinak]

Hello there!
I'm new here and have had orchids on and off.
Recently I acquired an orchid from a friend who was moving. I received it last December and re potted it in its same pot. It wasn't blooming and had beginnings of new leaves.
It was doing wonderfully for a couple of months with new growth on top. But just in the last few weeks things have started to go down hill
All the new growth leaves have started to get flaky white stuff on the underside and some have turned yellow, dried and fallen off.
It lives near a southern facing window with lots of ambient light, sometimes dots of direct sun.
I have tried to search online for something similar and haven't been able to find any answers.
I'm also not exactly sure what kind of orchid this is so its harder to search for info. I've never seen it's blooms but apparently they are small, pink and very fragrant.
Would love it if someone could also help me identify this plant!
I've attached four pics of the leaves, hope it worked!
Thanks for the help!

[WhiteRabbit]

I think that's a Dendrobium - I have one similar looking (kingianum hybrid), tho mine has more substantial canes. Mine is also showing this whiteish areas - it doesn't seem to be mildew (at least on mine) - I don't know what it is - so I really hope someone can help out!

I don't know why that new leaf is yellowing - I do sometimes see that happen on my kingianum, when all else looks good. Again, hopefully someone else will be able to help

[Judi]

I also think it may be a dendrobium could the white "stuff" be bugs like spider mites, or trips?

[orchids44]

It looks like spider mites. Bayer 3 in 1 works well for me. You may have to apply every 7 - 10 days for 3 applications. Good luck, it's a very nice orchid.

[alinak]

Hi everyone!
Thanks for all the info and now I know its a Dendrobium.
So I guess I'll try and get rid of the spider mites. Can anyone recommend a natural remedy? I'd rather not spray pesticide in my house as I have pets. I recall there is a bug spray made out of some sort of flower base? Wonder if that would work...might even have it in my garage.
Will give it a try!
Thanks again! I hope I can heal it and get to see its blooms someday.

[cutie_monster]

Originally Posted by alinak

I'd rather not spray pesticide in my house as I have pets.

the active ingredient in Bayer 3-in-1 is imidacloprid, and it is totally safe to use around dogs & cats. imidacloprid is actually the same active ingredient in advantage, advantix, and advantage multi (also manufactured by bayer) which is used to kill fleas. you apply it directly to the animal's skin. i've even seen veterinarians use it off-label in rabbits to kill fleas and skin mites. it has a very wide margin of safety. in fact, i've been a vet tech for almost 10 years & i've never seen an adverse reaction to it. imho, if you chose that particular product to treat your plant, i wouldn't worry about your pets being harmed by it.

[Judi]

I've never used it on spider mites, but I think that the cinnamon spray might work. There are a lot of good natural remedies you will find helpful info. at: First Rays' Home Remedies

[orchids44]

I have a pet as well, a wonderful lab.
When I spray and water the orchid with Bayer 3 in 1, I use gloves and a mask. The treatment occurs outdoors and the plant is left outdoors for 1 - 2 hrs.
If this were the beginning stage of the mites, minimal treatment may have worked. From your photos, the infestation appears to need the "big guns". Hang in there, I've had great success with this spray.

[alinak]

Thanks for the pet info. I ended up using Mita X since I already had it. Active ingredients are cottonseed, clove, and garlic oils, smelled nice Also found out that my big palm which the orchid was near was also really buggy! So I washed and sprayed them all, we'll see what happens. If they return I'll have to go with something stronger.

[silken]

Imidacloprid is not a miticide and is said to even aid mites since it kills off any natural predators. Mita X sounds like a miticide going by its name. If you do need something stronger, Malathion has worked well for me in the past. it stinks, but I'd rather smell that than have spider mites on my orchids. Be sure and keep your plant isolated from others until all mites are gone. They will need repeat treatment to get all eggs that hatch. Good luck.