Help! There's a bug on my Phal.

[jills73]

Help PLease!! I found this small white bug on my Phal flower tonight, took a pic before I wiped it off. Any idea what it is and how to treat it? I have never had a problem like this before and have no idea.

[kmarch]

It is a mealy bug. They are fortunately one of the easiest to get rid of. They are soft bodied and so succumb to most sprays and treatments. If you see only one or 2 you could just pick them off and keep en eye on the plant for more. If you see little areas of fluff in leaf crotches of anywhere, you could swab the areas with rubbing alcohol or spray with Safer's Insecticidal Soap. Watch the plant and re-spray in a week or so (or according to directions) until they're all gone.

[jills73]

Thanks Kmarch! Where do I find this insecticidal soap? There were two white areas on the back of an adjacent flower they were empty just white web like places.

[kmarch]

You should be able to find it just about anywhere that has a decent garden or house plant department, KMart, Meijers, Lowes, possibly Walmart or Target (maybe Home Depot but I cant' recommend them because I am boycotting them). Various hardware stores like Ace will probably have it too. The brand name is "Safer" and the stuff is called "Safer's Insecticidal Soap". It's safe for use in the home. It does not work on all bugs, but it will kill the mealies off.

[jills73]

Thank you, I just located a bottle on my garden shelf that I had purchased for my roses, it's called Garden Safe. The label includes treating mealy bugs. One more question..I have on the same humidity tray with two other plants(not in bloom) should I treat them as well?

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

What is the active ingredient on the Garden Safe. If it is neem oil, I would save it for your Roses. You can look for any product with imidacloprid, if the Safer's Soap does not seem to be doing the job. Sometimes mealies will get down into the pot and live on the roots. If this happens, it is better to use a systemic like the imidacloprid, and be done with the problem. I have had no damage with the imidacloprid on any of my orchids, including about 500 different species.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by jills73

One more question..I have on the same humidity tray with two other plants(not in bloom) should I treat them as well?

Look carefully at your other plants for signs of mealies (fluff). if you see any, spray. If not you could either 1) spray anyway to prevent the bugs form fleeing onto the other plants, or 2) not spray but watch to see if they have picked up any.

[mayres]

You need to stay after these stinkers regularly. Just when you think you have them taken care of and stop being diligent you will find some in another area (or returned). I recommend Bayer Rose & Flower Spray (with the ingredient Cynthia notes) if you have just a few orchids - about $5-6 for a ready to use spray bottle. Use it every week for a month or so - top and bottom of leaves.

[jbigio]

Also note that the ones you see on the plant are all females. The males are tiny wasp like and fly. They are often mistaken for fungus gnats. I keep a small dish of apple ciders vinegar on each shelf as this attracts both. You will be surprised at the amount of these flying pests that drown.

Joe

[jills73]

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the help, have started treatment and no signs so far anywhere else. I will keep a close eye out though.