What is this powdery stuff

[ChrisAZ]

Please help! Can any of you identify this powdery substance on the leaves of my orchids and bromeliads? The orchids are newly acquired and isolated for now. The bromeliads are in a dart frog vivarium. I'm very concerned and want to treat this ASAP. Any remedies would be greatly appreciated. Any remedies that are animal safe, even more appreciated!



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[Pattywack]

Hello and welcome to the board. Have you tried to wipe the leaves off with a damp paper towel? It's hard to tell but almost looks like alge to me especially on the Pleurothallis allenii? The other orchids may be alge as well. Not sure about the bromeliad.

Hopefully someone else will have other ideas. Try and see of you can wipe green off of the orchids leaves. Were their pots/mounts covered in this?

[This Side of Paradise]

alge super common in a dart tank with insufficient air flow

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[ChrisAZ]

Originally Posted by This Side of Paradise

alge super common in a dart tank with insufficient air flow

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I've doubled ventilation. Any other suggestions? I've been reading up on using hydrogen peroxide for the plants in quarantine but I don't know how dangerous that would be around frogs in the vivarium.


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[Tindomul]

Definitely algae. You could try swabbing the H2O2 rather than misting it. After a few mins that stuff turns to oxygen and water. However, I would not worry too much about it. WIth increased ventilation you should see a reduction of problems. Even if you use the H2O2 you won't get rid of it all. All it takes is one cell to survive.
Maybe you can help me out, I am curious to know what fans you are using.

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[ChrisAZ]

All my ventilation is passive, no fans.


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[Tindomul]

Oh yes, you need to use a fan for healthy growth.

[Selmo]

If it is not algae then it is probably powdery mildew. Both are not good. More air circulation will help but may not solve the problem. Areas that have been effected by this (algae/mildew) may not return to healthy tissue, leaving large scars. Wiping the leaves with a wet cloth (with H2O or H2O2) may remove some of the algae/mildew on the surface of the leaves. But the whole area is covered with the same algae/mildew spores weather you can see them or not, especially your vivarium, not having good ventilation (fans) from the start may of caught up with you. It will be a long and hard road back, to get rid of this and may mean starting over. There are chemicals and bleach that will eliminate this. I am not trying to be harsh on you but sometimes things don't go the way that we wish. Good Luck with this, keep us updated as this is a learning experience for all of us.

[estación seca]

I thought powdery mildew grows during cool and very dry weather. Is it a problem in warm, closed, humid terraria?

[Selmo]

We have problems with powdery mildew in the mid-late summer here. Powdery mildew likes moist or humid conditions with moderate temps. Like what most people have in greenhouses or terrariums/vivariums. You maybe thinking of Downey mildew