White cottony fluff growing on my Phal!

[Sindiintx]

Hi all!
I am a newbie here. Had orchids for 2 years. I have looked for a couple of hours and haven't seen what is wrong with one of my Phals.

My poor plant has a cotton infection of some sort. I don't see bugs. It's not sticky. When I wiped a fluff off with my fingers it became a compact greyish/greenish blob. I have put the phal in the sink and used the sprayer head from the faucet. Direct water pressure washed them off the leaves. This stuff has also grown on the water saucer, and my african violet that was next to the phal. I have removed both these plants into another room, as I didn't want this stuff to spread.

Pictures follow. Any ideas?? What is it and what should I do to rid my plants of this growth/pest?

[LouisW]

Yes you have a rather severe infestation of Mealybugs. They are little insects (inside the silky fluff) and they suck the juices from your plants. You were right to remove and isolate them. Mealybugs can infest just about any houseplant.

I recommend that you wash all of them off as best you can and then spray the whole plant and the medium with Neem oil, which is a natural insecticide that can be found in most nurseries that sell houseplants. Do this maybe twice a week or so for several weeks until they stop coming back.

[psyc1210]

Those are mealy bugs. I have never had that many on a plant, I usually find one or two on new acquisitions. I usually pick them off. I would suggest using a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol and wipe the leaves off to kill them. I don't like using a lot of pesticides to get rid of the bugs that get on orchids.
Another thing is a recipe that I know someone posted on this forum before. I know it is a mixture of water, a few drops of dishsoap, and I believe a teaspoon of cinnamon extract. You could try that to spray the plant off and kill the bugs.

Mealy bugs are soft bodied, so I don't think it would be too difficult to eradicate. However you'll want to treat more than once, because they are probably hiding in very tight spaces on the plant, and in the media, along with eggs as well.

[-k-]

As I agree it has the appearance of mealy bugs my questions is this... you stated you've had these plants for 2 yrs without issue? Have you recently aquired a new plant that may have been infected?
I would also do a close inspection on the rest of the plants that were in the area of this plant.

[Sindiintx]

Thank you all for your swift replies!

Yes, I am occasionally "rescuing" more castoff discounts from Lowe's. Just yesterday I bought my first Vanda. Most are Phals and 1 Den (I think). So there have been newcomers to the herd. I think from now on I will make a habit of isolating the new ones until I see how they are. Also will be giving the cinnamon dip/soak to all my plants as I re-pot them. THEN add them to the healthy ones.

I will definitely take some immediate (!) action with all the plants in that room/window. This morning, I just found new mealybugs on the Phal with a new spike and buds! ACK!!! I will treat with the cinnamon mixture and Neet oil if I can find it. I had just learned about the cinnamon recipes on other posts here and was pleased with the feedback on using that!

Thank you all for the fantastic help! I feel better knowing what to do, and the plants will feel better very soon!

[-k-]

Originally Posted by Sindiintx

Yes, I am occasionally "rescuing" more castoff discounts from Lowe's. So there have been newcomers to the herd.

Yes, that would explain it for sure!

Originally Posted by Sindiintx

I think from now on I will make a habit of isolating the new ones until I see how they are.

Excellent idea, and strongly recommneded when buying resuces! I now repot every plant that comes home with me (unless I know the supplier) but I still do a thorough inspection and keep isolated for several days.

Originally Posted by Sindiintx

I will definitely take some immediate (!) action with all the plants in that room/window. This morning, I just found new mealybugs on the Phal with a new spike and buds! ACK!!!

Yes, inspect all plants from that area, every nook and cranny of the plant as they can hide very well! I would use a insecticidal soap such as Bayers accordingly to treat the plant if you decide not to use the cinn treatment, however do not use on blooms. Mealies found on blooms should be manually removed with a q-tip.

Good luck!

[mehitabel]

I would like to add that whenever I've seen an infestation this bad, there are mealies all over the roots and medium as well. Better unpot the plants and have a look below. If they got all over the saucer. I'll bet they wormed their way down into the medium and have a mealie factory down there.

As psyc1210 said you will have to treat more than once, and be alert for re-occurrences. Also check the root area of any nearby plants.

Mealies are *the devil*, they hide extraordinarily well and reproduce at a blazing rate from wherever they are hidden, so search well.

[11Orchid126]

Treat the medium also, to kill any eggs there, or they will continue to hatch. Treat all your orchids as if they were infected too, because it may only be a question of time. This will be a big job but worth it in the long run, because if you don't, you can fight mealies for years.

[E-Jag]

Sin, if you aren't into insecticides, mix a tablespoon of cinnamon powder into 1 pint of rubbing alcohol, let it stand for 24 hours then strain it through a coffee filter. Is a good insecticide/fungicide. Another board member came up with this and it works very well. Good luck, sooner or later everybody has to deal with the little blighters.

[orchids4me]

Originally Posted by psyc1210

Those are mealy bugs. I have never had that many on a plant, I usually find one or two on new acquisitions. I usually pick them off. I would suggest using a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol and wipe the leaves off to kill them. I don't like using a lot of pesticides to get rid of the bugs that get on orchids.
Another thing is a recipe that I know someone posted on this forum before. I know it is a mixture of water, a few drops of dishsoap, and I believe a teaspoon of cinnamon extract. You could try that to spray the plant off and kill the bugs.

Mealy bugs are soft bodied, so I don't think it would be too difficult to eradicate. However you'll want to treat more than once, because they are probably hiding in very tight spaces on the plant, and in the media, along with eggs as well.

The recipe is under pest and diseases a sticky in there called "the greatest stuff ever". Its great for mealies. I add 15 drops of. 70 percent rubbing alcohol to that recipe and spritz away leaves roots everything. It got rid of my mealies I had one time very quickly. Isolate a few months and spray like every 3 days or so. To ensure any babys that hatch are also eradicated.
Good luck
Emmaye