Finicky Phalaenopsis. (stuartiana) - Orchid Board

Izzie · #1 04-12-2010, 06:16 PM

Yay alliteration! Sorry, couldn't help it.

Anyways, the P. stuartiana that I bought in-bud a few weeks ago has been sitting doing nothing.
When I bought it, it had some mealy bugs on the spike/buds that the store washed off and doused with Neem Oil for me.
The spike has a small linear scar along it.

In every other way, the plant looks perfectly healthy- has one root nub starting, and several roots with active growing tips.

However, in the weeks I've had it, the spike has hardly progressed, if at all. The first week I had it in low light as I read that was what it preferred- until advised that the lack of light could be halting the blooms. Since then, it has been in a filtered southern window.

1. I'll post pictures later, the only thing a picture would show as far as I know is the irregular texture of the buds- they are no longer smooth, but don't look withered.

2. Should I be fertilizing it more? I've been fertilizing pretty weakly, weekly. I could easily double what I've been using without having the PPM go above 150.

3. I've been keeping the plant humid- misting, on a gravel tray.

4. Is it possible that the mealy bugs have compromised the progression of the spike?

5. Should note temperatures: day 72 night 65, ambient humidity 30-50%

So- any thoughts?

eta: there are two pictures of the plant on my thread here: http://www.orchidboard.com/community...-now-what.html not the best, I'll get more tonight if requested.

Izzie · #2 04-12-2010, 09:20 PM

Am I to guess that by no replies, people want pictures?

Connie Star · #3 04-12-2010, 10:51 PM

Hi Izzie,
I have a Phal stuartiana that I bought almost a year ago and put in S/H. It was small, and not in spike. They seem to be very slow growing, and I have kept it warm. Pictures would be nice.

quiltergal · #4 04-12-2010, 10:57 PM

If I were to hazzard a guess I would say the Neem oil may have something to do with the spike not progressing. I've seen other spikes which were sprayed with insecticides that made the flowers all deformed.

I hope you have this plant quarantined from the rest of your plants. Mealies can spread like wildfire through a collection. Unless you repotted as soon as you got it home then you have larva living in the medium. In the future I'd recommend never buying a plant with bugs of any kind no matter how much you like it. They can take forever to eliminate, and some never go away. Why risk it?

Izzie · #5 04-12-2010, 11:27 PM

After the dousing at the store, over these weeks, I have found ONE mealy on another plant- I didn't think of larvae in the media. It was soaked in a systemic last week.

I will post pics tomorrow morning.
The buds look normal, nicely firm and green- but imagine that they're filled with gravel. Just irregular surface- same for the spike, not grainy or bumpy or veiny, just irregular.

I've been thinking of repotting it anyways- should I go ahead and do that since it has active root tips?

Izzie · #6 04-12-2010, 11:31 PM

Also- I bought the plant because I was able to get it at a much cheaper price because of the bugs- one that I could afford. So far no spread except for that one bug- but I'll keep a closer eye out now.

Thanks for the heads up.

quiltergal · #7 04-12-2010, 11:52 PM

Hey, we've all done it before. I just tossed a Brlla that I've been treating systemically for scale for 3 years! The best I could do was keep the buggers at bay. Thankfully I never put it in with my other plants. I purchased it online and when I opened the box I couldn't believe my eyes! It was literally covered with scale. Who does that??? Anyway, the other day I just got ticked and pitched it. It never would have bloomed since it couldn't be where the best light is.

Just keep a vigilant eye out for more of the creepy little critters. I have found that spraying the plant with straight rubbing alcohol does a great job on the adults with minimal if any side affects on the plant. Spikes and new growths are their favorite places to hang out.

Izzie · #8 04-13-2010, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltergal

Hey, we've all done it before. I just tossed a Brlla that I've been treating systemically for scale for 3 years! The best I could do was keep the buggers at bay. Thankfully I never put it in with my other plants. I purchased it online and when I opened the box I couldn't believe my eyes! It was literally covered with scale. Who does that??? Anyway, the other day I just got ticked and pitched it. It never would have bloomed since it couldn't be where the best light is.

Just keep a vigilant eye out for more of the creepy little critters. I have found that spraying the plant with straight rubbing alcohol does a great job on the adults with minimal if any side affects on the plant. Spikes and new growths are their favorite places to hang out.

Yes ma'am!
I hate bugs- not as much as other things, but still not a fan.

I always feel like I have them crawling on me for a while after I deal with an infested plant.

jkofferdahl · #9 04-13-2010, 01:42 PM

Izzie, you may have a combination of factors going with your plant. It has been my experience that Phal. stuartiana is a pretty easy bloomer and takes nothing in the way of extra care.

Often, when a plant is purchased in bud it has been pushed to bloom by the grower, essentially to make is attractive for sale. However, a change in environment can create complications, delays, and even abortions of the blooming. The added complication of mealies is unfortunate. I've seen mealies, with no treatment, completely ruin a bloom cycle. Neem oil, as well as other treatments, can also complicate the blooming cycle.

I would personally take a very proactive approach to the plant. My concern would be more to the elimination of the mealy infestation rather than the flowering. A healthy plant will flower for years, but a sick plant may perish. My approach would be to cut off the spike altogether, which will also eliminate a heavy portion of the bugs. Then treat the plant on a two-week cycle for several cycles to kill off both the adult mealies and also the larvae. Though you'll have the short-term disappointment, you'll preserve the plant for long-term joy!

Izzie · #10 04-13-2010, 02:44 PM

Do you mean a two week cycle of the systemic?
It's Bayer Rose and Flower 3in1, and I have to dilute it significantly to keep the PPM in a safe range for the orchids, and have worried in the back of my mind if that dilution is diminishing the effectiveness of the systemic.

I've been thinking of doing away with the spike anyways, so good to hear.
Planning on repotting into a small vanda basket lined with sphag, wine cork pieces in the bottom, and CHC/Charcoal/little bit of perlite and bark.