ansellia with white powder
 

I was given a ansellia with white powder on all the older growth, it is not powder mildew. I have a few hours in on cleaning it off with soap, but I will never get it all off. I am thinking about a physan soak or copper. Any thoughts on this maybe the compost?

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After some research I think this could be "fungal symbiots" after all it is a trash basket.

That looks like dried fertiliser deposits, most of my orchids I buy from my favourite nursery has those deposits on the older growths. It's never caused a problem before. Could also be lime, some growers use that too.

Looks like lime deposits to me. What about trying to rub it off with some mayonnaise? And then rinse it off with water afterwards.

I like the lime, and or dried fertilizer deposits idea the only thing is it was a nice green house with many nice orchids, and this was the only one with this problem. The grower e-mailed me with a free plant and told me if I did not take it, it was compost. She had a Phrag with 25 open bloom next to it with no white. I am going to get out the mayonnaise I hope Best foods is the best, I know I like it.

Best Foods
 

Look at that REAL Mayonnaise shine! how long do I leave it on?? This is the first time I have thought about eating one of my orchids.

Maybe the plant has been moved from a place with lime in the water to the greenhouse where you saw it. Lime can stick to the leaves for something that feels like forever, I think.

I recently changed from borehole water to RO water in my greenhouse and the old lime on the roots and the leaves just does not go away without scrubbing. I thought it would wash off with time. Now, I've come to terms with that I'll need to clean each and everyone of them manually and carefully. It's quite a job if you've got a lot of plants.

---------- Post added at 05:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:54 PM ----------

They looks stunning when they're all shiny like that, right? :D

I normally rinse it off pretty quick. I'm not sure if the leaves can take damage from the acid in the mayo. But maybe somebody else will be able to provide more info on that.