What's going on with my Dens?

[Leafmite]

I use Isopropyl alcohol to combat fungus on my houseplants and Captan on my fruit trees. With the dendrobiums, the alcohol is probably safest as they can react badly to copper and other chemicals. You might have to cover the medium with plastic wrap to keep the alcohol from harming the roots but then you just spray the entire plant with alcohol once or twice a day.
Good luck!

[RandomGemini]

Thanks Everyone! I'll definitely try spraying the plants with alcohol. I spray my dog's beds with the stuff every now and then to kill dust mites, so I have a spray bottle already filled with it. Convenient! Is the 90% concentration okay or should I get the usual 70%?

[RandomGemini]

I definitely think the alcohol is working. I removed all of the affected leaves and cut a couple of dead canes from the microchip. I have seen no signs of the weird spots since I did this and began spraying it with alcohol. Both plants are throwing up new canes and I think the microchip may have just begun to spike!

[Leafmite]

I am glad that it is working. It always works for me and is safe to use indoors. I am really glad that your microchip is recovering. Mine is getting new growths, roots and spikes, too.

[RandomGemini]

We'll see! Keep those fingers crossed as it has only been a few days, but I had been seeing new spots develop overnight and have seen none since spraying with alcohol. I love that I can use it safely indoors though, that will make a huge difference for all of my winter fungal issues.

[Leafmite]

Just don't get it on the roots or spikes. It dries them out.
If you are not yet adding a bit of calcium to your orchids' diet, you might wish to do so. It seems to help them resist these things better. I add a little eggshell to all of my orchids pots.
Winter is a stressful time for plants. With the stress, their defenses become depleted. I usually get some sort of pest in my fruit/spice trees, whether it is scale, mealies or spidermite before the end of February.

[RandomGemini]

Like actual eggshells or should I run down to the nursery for some ground preparation? I've always trusted my fertilizer to do enough for my plants, so I've never added eggshell to a pot before. Apologize for all the newbie questions! These are my first dens. I'm glad I started with hybrids!

[Leafmite]

When I use eggs, I then rinse and crumble the eggshells over the plants.
I have grown plants all my life so I just apply what I have learned and do with the other plants to the orchids. They are all plants, after all. Even so, I am always learning, too. That is what is great about the forum...so much wonderful information!

[RandomGemini]

I really appreciate your help. I haven't had the time or the energy to grow plants at all until recently. I'm really enjoying it. I find that checking on my terrarium and other orchids is pretty much the perfect way to start a morning for me. It doesn't take me long and there's a peaceful feeling I get after misting the terrarium that carries over into the rest of my day. I wish I'd had the patience to grow my own plants sooner.

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[Leafmite]

I am glad that you have discovered the joy of growing plants.