Frustrated with phal leaf issues

[wintergirl]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

Wow... I hope she's alright. Nicotine does absorb through the skin. You're supposed to avoid getting that stuff on your hands.

Ya she's ok. It doesn't happen all the time but I know that it did happen at least once.

[orchids44]

I think you have spider mites which does not go away on its own. Mites are quite common with phals grown under lights. What is your humidity? Mites love dry conditions. I would increase RH to 60% and 24/7 fans. Treat immediately with 3in1 Bayer solution, spray leaves (especially underside) and drench bark. Treat every 7-10 days for 3 treatments. Hang in there, it works.
Also, not sure if Bayer is sold in the UK but you definitely need a good systemic miticide.

[NYCorchidman]

No! This is not caused by spider mites.
Plus, when spider mite damage is sever, you can see them moving all over and often with webbing. There would be soooo many.

I bet that phal is virused most likely.
Or as someone else suggested, a microscopic sized mites, but I'm not familiar with them at all.

[silken]

I know spider mite damage is similar but as NYC says, it would be crawling with them. People kept telling me that at first but I did not have spider mites and it spreads to other Phals, and only Phals. So as sad as it may be, I still think you have an outbreak of the virus or whatever they want to call it. They look identical to all my Phals when they got real bad.

[orchids44]

NYorchidman,
Phalaenopsis mites do not spin webs and are microscopic! The pitting areas look typical of mite chewing and sucking damage. Look on the website of Big Leaf Orchids forum, the pictures look very similar. The only sure way to know if the plant has a virus is by testing. And most importantly, isolating from other plants.

[silken]

It's definitely worth treating with a miticide for mites. Nothing to lose for sure. I did and it didn't work. I looked up Phalaenopsis mites: phalaenopsis mite - Tenuipalpus pacificus Baker

They also prey on many other types of orchids. My Phals were mixed in with many other types of orchids and the problem never transferred to a different genus.

The trouble with testing for a virus, is there has to be a specific test for it and you have to know for sure which virus you are testing for.

[dangerouseddy]

Originally Posted by orchids44

I think you have spider mites which does not go away on its own. Mites are quite common with phals grown under lights. What is your humidity? Mites love dry conditions. I would increase RH to 60% and 24/7 fans. Treat immediately with 3in1 Bayer solution, spray leaves (especially underside) and drench bark. Treat every 7-10 days for 3 treatments. Hang in there, it works.
Also, not sure if Bayer is sold in the UK but you definitely need a good systemic miticide.

yes its called rose clear ultra, you can get it in powder form or in a spray bottle.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by orchids44

NYorchidman,
Phalaenopsis mites do not spin webs and are microscopic! The pitting areas look typical of mite chewing and sucking damage. Look on the website of Big Leaf Orchids forum, the pictures look very similar. The only sure way to know if the plant has a virus is by testing. And most importantly, isolating from other plants.

I know that. I said spider mites have webs when they occur in large number.

Regrading the other mite, the damage shows up as white pitting all over or irregular patches here and there.
I highly doubt the picture they have is correct representation. Such uniformly shaped marks are usually indication of disease not bugs damage.

If I was the owner of this phal, I would toss without second though. It just looks horrible whatever it has.
If you love this phal so much, then yeah, definitely get it tested for virus but I doubt home test kit that tests for only two types will tell you what it is as I don't think it is either of those two virus, but other type. I still say it has poti virus. One can send the leaf sample to the lab with extra cost for testing other types of virus.

[DMT]

I see on two of your pictures there is water drops standing on the leaves, this can turn into a big problem. Getting water in the crown of Phal is also a concern.