fungus & bugs - help
 

it doesn't stop :bua: After repotting my baby cattleyas that had white, fluffy kind of mold growing on their sphag, now I see through the openings of the new little clay pots grey stuff growing on them. Looks a bit like a bread that starts to have fungus growing. I can't get physan here in Quebec. Nexogen recommended ZEP pool cleaner but HomeDepot has closed their pool section already for the winter, in other shops I couldn't find it so I bought a new huge bottle of H2O2. You think that helps? How often do I rinse them? Dip them? Do I flush with water afterwards?
2 computer vans will be installed today blowing on the ground between the pots for more ventilation.

The other 3 grown up orchids have little insects (about 1mm, dark - my camera can't get a photo of something that small) crawling in their bark :_( To me it looks like fleas from a dog but my dog is clean, I checked. The plants look ok, there is nothing on the leaves. If I pour a bit of H2O2 over the bark they start crawling out more but don't get killed. Anyone got an idea what they are? How to get rid of them with something available in Canada?

Any advice - again - very much appreciated! Already freaking out a bit here with so many problems. I can't stand to kill any of my orchids :(

What about bayer 3 in 1? Fungicide, Mitacide, Insecticide I helps with the bug issue. You can pour the H2O2 directly onto the plant, as it evaporates it gives the plant more oxygen. Could you order the product Nexogen suggested by home depot/lowes websites?

---------- Post added at 03:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:58 PM ----------

Sorry, I know that the fungus and bugs can be an issue. But the fans being installed should be a huge help. Especially with the extra ventilation.

(Practically Physan 20 is disinfectant) I recommended you VIRKON or T36 (wide spectrum hospital grade) and if you want Physan 20 is something similar at Home Depot (ZEP-Antibacterial Disinfectant & Cleaner with lemon), Algae Kill is pool cleaner similar with Physan 20 recommended by Wild Orchid. But more important to you is ventilation.

If is to cold in your house, heat mat is miraculous.

H2O2 3% is good but if the bottle is not hermetically closed in one day is H2O and Oxygen

Bingo! Found it on their website. I was convinced it's a pool cleaner (no idea why?!) and the employee had no idea what ZEP was. But it's a normal household cleaner. Back to home depot tomorrow :) Any idea how physan usually is used on plants? I found a description of 2tbsp/gallon of water, does that sound right? And I can put it on the media only or the plant as well? I guess the household cleaner won't come with instructions on how to use on orchids ;)

---------- Post added at 05:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------

oh, Viralex, T36,... do I get that in the pharmacy?

Yeah, that is it and then soak the plant in it. But go by whatever the instructions are for your product. Each one can be different. The Bayer 3 in 1 you mix and spray. @Nexogen may be able to give you better advice since that was their recommendation.

In your case I prefer H2O2 but if the bottle is not hermetically closed in one day is H2O and Oxygen.
You can use ZEP-Antibacterial Disinfectant & Cleaner with lemon 50 ml per 1 liter of water, but I don’t think is good idea stressing the plants, if humidity is around (50-60) %, good air circulation (not typhoon), (18 -30) degree Celsius and not too much water, in few weeks is 0K.
:liar: sorry VIRKON not Viralex

---------- Post added at 05:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:28 PM ----------

In generally; if you buy H2O2 (Hydrogen Peroxide), don't buy more like 500mL because is chemically instable.

---------- Post added at 06:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 PM ----------

Mold growth is based on low temperature, no air currents, high humidity, and low lighting.

VIRKON!!! That we have. We use that to disinfect dive gear. But anyway you recommend H2O2, I'll go with that and see how I can heat it up better. I had found something to heat shoes and put it under 2 of the pots.

Ventilators installed :) very temporary. Am building a furniture for the orchids and will install properly when that is ready.

Put the 3 plants with bugs on a separate "table" - what an old computer gives you before it goes to the trash: a quarantine table, 2 ventilators and 4 heatsinks to build LED lights :)
Could only see 1 insect after looking for quite a while. Is it possible that they have always been there and I just haven't noticed before? I saw 1 while watering yesterday and only after putting some H2O2 more came out. Are insects in bark always bad?

The plants looks god, except H2O2 doesn’t use other chemicals.

---------- Post added at 06:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:29 PM ----------

And don’t worries, Insects can be found almost everywhere

---------- Post added at 06:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:37 PM ----------

Don’t spend your money for fungicide; you need vigorous plants, if you have money and time, goo to the hydroponics store and buy Cal Mag Plus and Liquid Karma (Botanicare), you remember me.

The insects you see are most likely springtails, they feed on dead/dying vegetation, and mold... So if you have them, (they look like silver fleas.. They can jump, but not like fleas at all) that means you need to change them out to fresh media.

A, yes is from paphiopedilum.