Little Grey Bugs in my Dendrobium.. Help please!

[Aireyla]

Hello there, I'm new to this forum and I'm really looking for some help.

My boyfriend got me a beautiful yellow and pink dendrobium for our 2 year anniversary in October. He mentioned that the guy who sold it to him mentioned that it's best to wait to repot/get new medium for it when its done blooming. It's been in bloom ever since we got it. However I've noticed recently that everytime I water it, tiny almost non-visible little grey bugs come out and skitter all over the place. The orchid doesn't look sick or unhealthy, and I'm wondering what I should do to get rid of them?

I attached a picture of the entire orchid, a close up of the roots as well as another view of the canes from a little bit further away. I can't seem to get a good picture of the buggers either, my camera can't seem to focus on them very well.

[Anton]

They sound like fungus gnats, nothing to worry about.

If you shine a torch on the potting mix at night, you'll probably see hundreds of them.

You can get some pyrethrum spray and try that, and spray it into the top of the potting mix. I have tried everything, and they just keep coming back.

I think that when you buy potting mix, their eggs are already in it, so you will probably fight a losing battle to keep them under control.

[Aireyla]

Thanks for the info, I hope thats it! I realized that the pictures didn't post until now, so if there's anything else you notice in them let me know! Maybe they've been there the whole time and I've only noticed them recently, but I was really afraid that there was something seriously wrong.

[BGGraham1]

Welcome to the forum. Lots of great info and assistance here.

I can't help you with this one, but I can tell you that your Dendrobium is really pretty. Love the colors.

You can try a mix that's been referred to around here called "The Best Stuff Ever" or Brookn's recipe for some bugs.

Its
10 drops of dish soap (I use Dawn)
1/2 tsp of cinnamon extract
2 cups of water

You can adjust for how much you may need. I have some in a spray bottle for quick hits, and I mix up larger batches for soaking if necessary.

[katrina]

If they are flying up and around the pots...like little gnats...then yes, it's fungus gnats. However, if they are just scurrying around in the pots...chances are you have Springtails.

Springtails are very common and unless the population gets out of control you really have nothing to worry about. Google "springtails" for pics to compare. There are quite a few different kinds and they are all part of a healthy eco-system...they feed on decaying plant matter.

[R&P]

Glad this thread came up - I noticed little grey bugs crawling on the cork mount for the first time when I watered my dendrobium aggregatum over the weekend. Good to know what they are!