What are these white things?

[ValorieBoyer]

I won an in-stalk phal at a raffle and have been happily waiting for it to bloom...when I noticed that it's stalks kept getting this white "fluff" on them. I'd dust or wipe it off and it would be back the next day. What is it and how do I get rid of it? None of my orchids have it and I'm keeping this one away from them until I fix this issue. I took a pic but it's a little blurry, I couldn't get my phone to focus enough, sorry!


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[Paphluvr]

Unfortunately you have an infestation of mealy-bugs. They can be difficult to get rid of. If the infestation is small you may be able to kill them with a alcohol dipped cotton swab done diligently daily until you don't see them anymore. Otherwise an insecticide may need to be used but they're hard to wet. A spreader/sticker helps. Good luck!

[PaphMadMan]

Mealybugs. You have a problem. They spread fast. Assume any nearby plants are infested too. You can try the the cotton swab with rubbing alcohol method, but you have to keep at it constantly.

[Dave S.]

Mealy Bugs, no question.

Plenty of ways to kill them:

Link: http://howto.yellow.co.nz/home-garde...ll-mealy-bugs/

[ValorieBoyer]

Ugh! Thanks guys, I'll do my best to kill the little bastards.


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[RosieC]

Yes Mealies

I got rid of them when I got them on one plant with the Alcohol and cotten bud method, dabbing off both them and all traces of the 'fluff'. I kept checking back for them every day and two weeks later there was a sign of the fluff again. I used the alcohol again to get rid of it and kept checking for another month... that was the last I saw of them.

I was lucky, it was only one one plant and I think I caught it when there were only a few adults. You want to get rid of them as fast as you can, and keep the plant away from others until you know it's clear.

[ValorieBoyer]

Just gave this guy a pretty liberal spraying with an insecticide (Bonide brand Eight Insect Control) we'll see how it does...certainly can't hurt! Here's a pic of the infected plant and a close up of the drenched mealybugs


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[cbuchman]

I use alcohol in a spray bottle. It is much easier to spray the alcohol into the nooks and crannies with those bugs do hide!

[ValorieBoyer]

Thanks, I'll be trying that method next if this one doesn't do anything!


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[Bud]

Try my mixture:

1 teaspoon liquid cinnamon extract (you can find this in the spice section of the supermarket)=helps disinfect and helps rule out bacteria and fungi infestation = the mealie bugs have this sharp pinchers that punctures the plant to suck its sap and sometimes bacteria and fungi gets in.

10 drops liquid dish soap (get the anti bacterial ones)

2 cups tepid water from the hot water in the sink


put it in a plastic sprayer, shake well and spray the plant until it is drenched....make sure the media mix is also drenched to nuke the eggs....repeat weekly until you don't see them anymore....

do this for a couple of months....especially if you see them come back.

you must be relentless....they will come back.

---------- Post added at 11:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:07 PM ----------

I dont know but when I spray mosquitos, cockroaches, flies = they fall dead upon contact with the spray this is safe for mammals, children and pets....try this home made remedy first before you get the big guns that are poisonous or carcinogenic....mealy bugs come back anyways even with the heavy duty commercial poisonous insecticides.