Thripe damage? And how do you know if you're winning the battle?

[lmartiny]

I checked my books and web and there was also a recent thripe thread. I haven't found the same pictures, but think this is thripes? It has spread to other plants. I looked up and asked about Bayre's again and finally started to use some. (3 in 1) I'd done some spraying with Cinn/soap mix and also recent direct Bayre's insecticide along with the 3 in 1. But I've been a bit shy on the application, worried I'll damage the plants. However, the bugs have reigned to date. I did 3 in 1 about three weeks ago and again two days ago. With a sprayer. They are all in the greenhouse. I'm now seeing damage to Den Spec. which is a new one for me. It seems to hit the Dens and Vanda types the most, but I've got a few others showing damage. I am new to the greenhouse. Everyone is in close proximity and seems to breed trouble. (high population due to cold weather) Your advise is appreciated.

[kmarch]

I don't think you have thrip damage. I think you have a fungus infection. This spottng looks similar (except for one plant which I think is perfectly healthy but I'll get to that in a minute) to botrytis but botrytis usually appears (and ruins) flowers. Have you been having some cooler days or nights with the plants staying wet? Or has it been cooler and humid? This type of fungal spotting often happens in conditions that are cooler and wet/moist/humid. Good air circulation can go a long way in preventing this kind of fungal spotting, as can watering early so the leaves can dry before night. You could also apply a good fungicide that is approved for orchids. Fortunately this type of fungal spotting is usually not fatal. It's not pretty but usually you don't have to worry about losing the plant.

The spotting on the new leaf in the last pic looks like normal leaf pigmentation and I don't believe it is a fungal or bug problem. I think it is a healthy leaf.

[berniep]

G'Day Imartiny

Agree with Kevin last leaf looks like some of my new leaves. I try to keep my greenhouse fairly well ventilated with air movement and when necessary a small fan.

Cheers
Bernie

[Brooke]

I agree with the two gentleman.

Brooke

[NancyG]

Were any of these orchids exposed to the cold weather we have been having in
Florida?
Some of my orchids have the same spotting. At first it looked light gray, then turned to soft brown and then hard brown. I've read that this is from exposure to the cold temps. The foliage will look unhealthy but overall the orchid will be okay.

[Choodles]

Damage from thrips will be silvery in most cases. (something like this http://badger.uvm.edu/dspace/bitstre...ge+%282%29.JPG )

you can often see their fecal matter, which looks like tiny drops of black good flung onto the leaves.

the thrips themselves have a pointy butt and feathery wings.

I agree that you likely don't have thrips, but some sort of "funk."

[Joe Geoffroy]

Imartiny

This is what I consider a fungus or cold water hitting the leaves or just being put to bed wet !, especially with the cold weather we have been having.

You are certainly lucky it isn't thrips, because I went crazy trying to get rid of them it took a while but I am finally got them,". used Safer Soap ", and still use it once a week faithfully.
joe
ps. good luck with all this cold weather..........

[lmartiny]

Thanks to everyone for the input. Our temps have fluctuated a lot the last several weeks and it does stay pretty humid in the GH. I have been switching between a fan and a heater. Electrical supply is temp for now. (extension cord) so perhaps I'd better get a power strip so I can run both. I'll ease up on the bug spray but continue with the systemic Bayres. Thanks again.

[frostychic]

Originally Posted by Choodles

Damage from thrips will be silvery in most cases. (something like this http://badger.uvm.edu/dspace/bitstre...ge+%282%29.JPG )

you can often see their fecal matter, which looks like tiny drops of black good flung onto the leaves.

the thrips themselves have a pointy butt and feathery wings.

I agree that you likely don't have thrips, but some sort of "funk."

I didn't think you could see a thrip... only the damage

[lmartiny]

I have found some little poops. ?

[articuno75]

I noticed on one of the plants that the leaves looked to have little tiny "blisters". Mine have been getting the same look with the "blisters", especially my Oncidiums since I killed my fan to keep from over drying. (I can't seem to find the happy medium. ) I agree with the others and say it's fungus/funk. The Bayer 3-in-1 is a good choice. A fan will help magnitudes.

[Brooke]

I've never seen thrips cause little blisters on leaves but if you have them, dried yellow buds appear on anything you have blooming. They do fly and look for something easy to suck on and blooms are perfect.

Frosty you can see thrips with the naked eye. They are the size of an exclamation mark like this ! If you want to see the wings, a microscope would be necessary. It is much easier to see the damage they do - they also spread virus with their greedy little mouths.

You need air circulation to avoid the problems Lynn has but the moving air will also send thrips all over. It is a damned if you do and damned if you don't problem

Brooke

[Choodles]

Originally Posted by frostychic

I didn't think you could see a thrip... only the damage

They're tiny (about the size of a small comma). One way to easily tell if it's a thrip or not- blow on it. If it's a thrips, it'll move, usually L or R from where they are facing.

[Choodles]

Originally Posted by lmartiny

I have been switching between a fan and a heater. Electrical supply is temp for now. (extension cord) so perhaps I'd better get a power strip so I can run both.

Sorry to hijack, but...Be careful with power strips- they can give you a false sense of security (and cause major problems as a result!) Heaters draw a ton of power, much much more than a fan or most lights. Someone else around here (jerry maybe) had a good post about electronics, wiring, etc. Let me see if I can find it...

Edit: Here's the thread. Jerry's post (#6) gets to the heart of the matter.http://www.orchidgeeks.com/forum/orc...-one-room.html

Happy Growing!

[lmartiny]

Thanks for that info Choodles. I remember reading that thread. I've asked hubby about it and he seems to think it is fine. I've only got the heater and the fan plugged into a new power strip. The extension cord runs from an outside plug that hubby put in by a small sitting area further back in the yard. He fed that from an outside/patio plug and buried that underground. We will do something permanent when it warms up some. The greenhouse is outside and at least 15 feet from the house.