Dusty white residue on Cymbidium foliage

[estelledeparis]

Hello everyone!

I have noticed some dusty/flaky spots on the foliage of my Cymbidium. I have no idea what they are called.

Those residues are superficial for the most part, meaning that they can be wiped off with a wet rag. They tend to leave a discoloration on the foliage if they are wiped after being there for a while but overall they just wipe off.

It has spread quite a lot now and I need your expertise in order to address a treatment!


Thank you in advance for your help

[Ray]

That's not a residue, it is mealy bugs.

You need an insecticide, NOW

[estelledeparis]

Thank you Ray for your insight!

Do you recommend an insecticide in particular?

[JMN16150]

Or you can use a mixture of rubbing alcohol, garlic, and cinnamon +chili pepper juice and use a Q-tip to smother each individual one.

[Cym Ladye]

I agree that you need an insecticide now, but I believe you have scale, not mealy bug. Mealies generally do not manifest themselves that way on cymbidiums but scale certainly does.

I use Bayer 3 and 1 systemic miticide/all purpose spray. Take the plant outside and spray it there as per instructions. When one has a very large collection as I do, "green" remedies simply do not work. Your choice but in my collection, an alcohol/cinnamon/garlic juice and chili pepper "rub" on an entire cymbidium plant would be a waste of time and would need multiple repeated treatments. Just another opinion.

[estelledeparis]

Thank you all for your advice.

After looking at pictures online, I do think too that they are scale bugs rather than mealy bugs.

I have wiped the leaves clean of bugs as much as possible using the homemade remedy recipe provided by JMN16150 and sprayed the plant with the Bayer 3 in 1 miticide. Hopefully, my Cymbidium recovers from the infestation!

[JMN16150]

Just make sure to keep your plant away from pollinators when it decides to bloom as Bayer Rose and Care cause the plant to create poisonous pollen; bad for bees and butterflies

[estelledeparis]

Good to know! It is an indoor plant only. I have sprayed it in the laundry room sink.

[orchids44]

my guess is boisduval scale.

[MrHappyRotter]

I think the important information has already been relayed, all good answers.

If you decide to go with the cinnamon oil / extract option, which works in my experience, I have a word of caution.

I'm pretty sure it's safe to use on cymbidiums, but test a small patch first, and if there's no leaf damage after a day or so, you're good to go. But be careful spraying it on other plants.

I'm saying this with the voice of experience, not all plants can handle cinnamon spray. I know that many Tillansias (bromeliads) and Mimosas, as well as other soft leaved plants will burn very easily, even from a light over spray.

I found this out the hard way. Cinnamon works, and works well, but you need to be selective with it.