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- - Pests in the medium (http://www.orchidboard.com/community/pests-and-diseases/69049-pests-medium.html)

Pests in the medium

I recently (unintentionally) ended up overwatering two of my Orchids. (i.e. they sat in water for around a week before I realized). I know that I obviously need to let the bark thoroughly dry out.

But in one of them, I noticed I now have some dark grey bugs crawling around the bark. They are very small. Maybe the width of a grain of sugar, but more shaped like a grain of rice. It looks pretty similar to pests I've seen in office plants which have been overwatered which generally resolved itself by allowing all the plants to dry out for a little while and letting the pests die off. I don't recognize (yet) any of the pest problems that seem to be listed on the orchid sites (webbing or discolouration on the leaves).

Is there anything else I should/could be doing to eliminate or protect against these?

They r springtails, they r attracted to mold (kinda like fungus gnats). Letting it dry out would prob help a little, they do like moist conditions, but re-potting would be best. You aren't really gonna get rid of the mold by drying it out, the only way is to throw away the old, moldy potting media, replacing it with nice new, fresh, (non-moldy) media :)

---------- Post added at 08:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:08 PM ----------

There was another thread about this same thing (Springtails), and as I was posting on that thread: "http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ect-these.html", I realized that this cinnamon concoction would probably work on these guys, because they are soft-bodied insects. So, I cut and pasted my reply to them, onto your thread. :) I hope it helps, and killing them off with this would be good, but re-potting after the massacre (:evil: heheheh :biggrin:) would be even better. I say this because if they got in once, they could get in again... And if they still have the same moldy/fungus-y media, they would feel oh so welcome :evil:

Quote:

~ ~ Cinnamon Concoction Recipe ~ ~
Because I can't find cinnamon extract, I make my own (this is also on Rays site, that's where I got how to make it)... But u can use cinnamon extract instead of this, just use a lot less.
•Take cinnamon (use powdered; sticks r good too, I use the stick in the final solution -in the sprayer-), and put it in rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl 70%) and let it "steep" (@ room temp) overnight. (I use the whole 16oz container of alcohol, with a tablespoon or two of cinnamon), and when it's done, strain out the c. powder with a coffee filter.
•10ml of Oil (cooking oil, like vegetable oil) ***read the link about oil below, please :)
•10ml of dish soap (like Dawn)
•20-30ml of cinnamon/alcohol mixture (not sure how much u would use if u have the store-bought "extract" -but less than the cinn/alcohol mix)
•—Put in a 20-32oz spray bottle, fill the rest of the way with water :) & Mix Well... I shake the spray bottle as I go.
...it sounds wierd, but I have used 409 in this recipe too (10-20ml of 409) u will read on the page below, about using it. I wonder if it would also help get rid of any bacterial stuff on your plant too? :hmm

This is a good site, TONS of good info! This was most of what helped me figure up the recipe above. This is the "Home Remedies" page (one of our members, "Ray", this is his site :) Great Site :nod:)
First Rays' Home Remedies

Using oil: (this is also from Ray's site, I put the link in, b/c this post is long enough! :yawn: Lol)
Use of Oils on Orchids

Don't fight colembolas*, repot. ^^

* there's really no point to do this, they live on dead and rotting veg.

Or go the easy route

Quote:

Originally Posted by Island Girl (Post 584876)

Or go to any gardening store and buy an insecticide safe for ornamentals ...I have been using Malathion and it works great

Colembolas are not dangerous, but are certainly the sign the potting mix is decaying, repot.

Killing any bug in sight just because it's there (and sometimes useful) is not only of no use, but possibly harmful. It's not addressing the real issue (a decaying mix), and can harm the plant (phytotoxicity) or generate resistance of pests hidden around.