White film on leaves?

[vlhart]

So I've got a few orchids with what looks like white film on their leaves. In the pics below--the phal has what looks like sort of a faint white coating on all the leaves that covers the whole surface of the leaf. Another phal I bought with it also has a bit of the same thing. I tried using milk to polish the leaves which didn't have an effect. And then tried rubbing alcohol which also didn't have an effect.

The ascocenda has what looks like a different type of white stuff on the leaves though it's a little hard to see from the pics. It's more in spots and strings but it doesn't wipe off or come off with alcohol or even scratch off. It also appears to be spreading a bit. Not sure if it's related to the brown leaf tip either. (sorry for the blurry pics)

Also--both of these plants are isolated from each other and had some of this when I bought them (separately).

Any ideas what could be going on with either? Thanks so much for your help!

[WhiteRabbit]

Might be mineral residue from water and/or fertilizer. Maybe try lemon juice ? (Just lightly moisten a bit of a paper towel pot cotton ball with the juice, and rub the leaves with that.

[vlhart]

Thanks. I'll try that but I'm not sure it's from water or fertilizer. The film on the phal and the streaks on the ascocenda have increased since I got them and the leaves on my other orchids look fine.

I'm slightly worried it might be a fungus on the phal and that the streaks on the ascocenda mean the start of mealybugs...

[vlhart]

Just got home and realized that the white coating is especially strong at the base of the phal leaves. The leaves are also going a little soft. I repotted this one recently in fir bark after I got it and the roots are in great shape so I'm not sure what could be going wrong here.

Any help would be appreciated!

[jeeshikaa]

I actually have noticed that on my phal as well. For the film on the leaf, I used some water mixed with a bit of lemon juice (the type you can get in those plastic lemons at the grocery store). It pretty much cleared it up and my phal's leaves are pretty glossy right now.

My phal also has white powdery stuff at the base of the leaves. I think it might just be a film from minerals and whatnot as previously stated, or some type of natural coating/substance that the plant produces itself.

As long as the white stuff isn't moving! Cause then it might be mealybugs

I'm just starting out with my first phal, so hopefully someone with more experience will be along to help!

[silken]

White slightly fuzzy/powdery stuff that sort of looks like white mould can also be immature scale. So keep an eye on that. I mistook it for mould on a plant once and didn't realize till the plant was covered with the adult round scale and then I really had to eradicate a lot of them. And it can move and spread in this form, but you wouldn't see it with the naked eye.

[NYCorchidman]

Most likely chemical spray or fertilizer residue, although it can be just some dust or ....bugs! lol
If it bothers you or you can't tell what they are, just wash them down good with water or even soapy water.
They should be gone.

[vlhart]

Doesn't wash off with water and soap, or "polish" off with milk which I read was a thing to do somewhere. Will try lemon juice next.

I haven't *seen* any bugs--yet! The film stuff is increasing on the phals though.

Thanks to everyone for their replies!

[wintergirl]

They have these cool digital "microscopes" for under $20 with free shipping. You can put it on a leaf and see that it really looks like magnifiedx500. It displays on your computer. I bought one and I use it whenever I see something I am concerned about on a leaf. MissOrchidGirl on Youtube turned viewers on to them.
50 500x 2MP USB 8 LED Light Digital Microscope Endoscope Video Camera Magnifier | eBay

[OfLeafandLimb]

That looks strongly like mineral deposits, but the way you describe the bottom sounds like mealybugs. I use straight lemon juice to remove mineral deposits from my plants, with paper towel. I warm the soaked paper towel in my hand first, just so I don't shock the plant, since I keep lemon juice in the fridge.

You can take a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe off the mealies, if that's what the white fuzz turns out to be. You may have to keep a close eye on it, and do that repeatedly, but mealies are easy to defeat if you get a good handle on them in the beginning, and stay vigilant about removing them regularly.

Since this thread is a month old, how are your plants doing now?