Pest,Bacteria,Fungal?
 

Hi everyone,

So this one of my new plants with not such a great start. It arrived with a unhealty green color and then this :( I will do my best to save this plant so would be very glad If you could help me in diagnosis.

And a little note, I would appreciate names of any product and where to get online since I am new to US, I know nowhere :)

Thank you

It looks like scale insect infestation. Did it come that way? If it did you should contact the seller for a refund. Scale insects can rapidly infest all your other plants, so keep it separate from them.

Find a product containing imidacloprid unless it is warm enough for you to take the plant outside for spraying, in which case you could use a number of other insecticides. Spray the plant with the insecticide solution and soak the soil. Some people here would remove all the medium from the plant and scrub the plant with insecticide as well.

One product many people like is Bayer brand 3-in-1 insecticide, fungicide and miticide. But you don't have fungus nor mites, so it would be overkill. You should be able to find a product containing only imidacloprid.

You don't say where you live. Different kinds of stores here carry different insecticide products. The greatest variety of products will be at a nursery store, not at a large hardware store.

If it's only one plant and if you don't want to live with poison, try water, potassium soap and an old toothbrusch. Does the job.

Thank you. It is a very new plant and it came in unhealthy green but I can't recall infestation so I would say at least it is my problem :))

I live in Ohio but I am planning to order it online since I don't have a car and it is nearly impossible to find a good nursery nearby (I am in Columbus so kind of a campus city really).

Note: the black spots marks does not go when you try to clean them. not sure if they would be moving if it was insects.

Oedema
 

Charlaux,

If it's not scale, it might be Oedema which is caused by overwatering. They are often confused with each other. If it's the pest, you should be able to remove it using a q-tip soaked in some alcohol. If the bump won't move, it could be Oedema. The following two websites contain photos and information describing Oedema:

PP244/PP164: Physiological Disorders of Orchids: Oedema

http://staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/Ed...ySueBottom.pdf

Hope this helps. By the way, I have purchased from this vendor in the past & have not had any problems. If it's Oedema, it's not a disease but occurs from improper culture which overwatering is. You can improve the health of this orchid by providing the proper culture.

Thank you. Unfortunately I found one of the mites on my other orchid. Don't know which one started but well.

Should I continue to use my fertilizer by the way while treating the plants?

Charlaux, if you are sure it's scale, I would continue with your regular fertilization program. If you ever need help identifying pests or diseases on your orchids, I have found the following websites to be very helpful:

Orchid related links Click on 'Related Links' and then click on 'Insects & Disease.

Since there are different types of scale, the following website will probably be helpful as well:

Orchid Pests, Orchid Diseases

Let us know if you need any more help.

---------- Post added at 10:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

Charleux,

Sorry but the websites mentioned in my previous post did not show up. Here they are:

Orchid related links
Click on 'Related Links' & then click on 'Orchid Pest & Disease'


The second site is for 'The St. Augustine Orchid Society':

Orchid Pests, Orchid Diseases

---------- Post added at 10:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 PM ----------

Charleux,

Sorry but the websites mentioned in my previous post did not show. Here they are:

Orchid related links
Click on 'Related Links' & then click on 'Orchid Pest & Disease'


The second site is for 'The St. Augustin Orchid Society':

http://staugorchidsociety.org/culturepests.htm

I'm guessing you're new to Columbus and haven't had a chance to get to know the area because we do have quite a few good nurseries around the area. Only one that carries a decent supply of orchids...but still, a good number of nurseries that aren't big box stores. The best one (IMO) being Oakland Nursery (2 locations)...but w/out a car, you would have difficulty getting there. If that changes though...Oakland Nursery is an excellent place to find many different fert/pesticide products. And the folks there are all extremely helpful.

I've used a couple of different products for scale...the easiest to obtain being the Bayer product someone else already mentioned - the 3 in 1 products. You can get it on Amazon in either a ready to use spray bottle or concentrate. Amazon.com : Bayer Advanced 701290 3-in-1 Insect Disease and Mite Control Ready-To-Use, 24-Ounce : Insect Repellents : Patio, Lawn & Garden

It does look like scale. When you treat the phal...treat any other plants that were near it. Also, best to carry the plant(s) outside to do the spraying. Or, if it's too cold outside, pour a little into a container, set the plant(s) in a sink or tub, and then paint the product on all surfaces of the plant(s). Be sure to get it in all the nooks and crannies of the leaves and then pour what's left in the container down into the pot. Let it sit in the sink/tub until it's dry and that no liquid is dripping out of the bottom of the pot. * Wear gloves to make sure you don't get the product on your hands. Once the product has dried, you can set the plant back in its normal spot.

Until the product arrives, you can take an old toothbrush and some alcohol and spray and brush the scale insects off. This will kill what's on the leaves but will require constant vigilance as new scale pop up.

Hi Katrina,

Thank you. Yes I am new to Columbus. I am living near OSU campus and with no cars the Oakland Nursery which I found was 1,5 hour by bus (one way)

There are no signs of scale insects other than the stains however I got this product so hopefully it should arrive in a weeks time ( Dual Action Rose & Flower Insect Killer | Bayer Advanced). It says it comes in ready to use form so I guess there is no need to dillute.

I am cleaning the plants with dilluted hydrogen peroxide. I also started using Ray's Inocucor as a protective solution. Two of my orchids gave new leaves as suprise so hopefull everything will go well :waving