White Sticky Powdery Stuff on Phals
 

Can anyone help me with this? It seems to be affecting several of mine now. They are still blooming and growing well, but they get a white, sticky, powder type substance on the leaves and flower stems.

Thanks!
I'm a newbie here!:hello

Welcome to OB!

Can you post a photo of the plant in question?

Sounds like scale or mealybugs, but Ted is right that a picture would be decisive.

Even without a picture I'm 99% certain it is mealie bugs.

The sticky stuff only appears to be at the base of the new leaves. The white powder stuff is on the back and front of the leaves.

Is there a cure?

Mealy Bugs without a doubt and it is curable. I clean them off carefully with rubbing alcohol using a swab to get in the crevices and corners and then rinse off the plant. As badly as you have it you can also use a systemic insecticide but make sure that it's usable on orchids. If you clean them off you'll have to watch the plant carefully for a while to make sure you don't get them back and that you've gotten all of them.

Here's a link to a thread on this site that discusses various cures: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ug-issues.html

If you want to use a systemic pesticide, I used Imidacloprid without side effects on Phalaenopsis hybrids. Mealy's also can feed on the roots and when you spray the plant only it's likely youd don't kill the eggs. If you spray the plant you'll need multiple treatments.
If you spray the plant, do it early in the day and make sure you remove excessive 'water' from the crown afterwards.

Nicole

Wow, thank you all! What great responses to this first timer here!

Is the rubbing alcohol treatment too harsh for the flower stems and buds?

Off to read the other thread you linked...

:thanx:

Sheena, I use rubbing alcohol often (70%) but I mix it half and half with water. Works great on mealie bugs. Use a cotton swab for the larger areas but to get down into the crevices I find that a student's paintbrush with a fine point works best. Good luck!

:)