Mini phalaenopsis, not the best roots... semi-hydro?

[estación seca]

You can't treat something until you know what it is.

[lilin42]

Originally Posted by estación seca

You can't treat something until you know what it is.

Yes, I suppose so! I had just been thinking general insecticides, although I'd rather not if it's not necessary. I've inspected the crevices pretty closely and don't see any insects or larva-like things.

Cutting the buds off the flower spike seems to have slowed down the leaf drop, but we'll see.

[lilin42]

Hey everyone, sorry to keep bugging you! I'm just wondering if these roots are ok, or if I need to cut more of them off...

Some of the thinner ones in the middle don't feel entirely firm, or have shriveled ends, and as you can see, look quite dark especially at the base. Is it better to cut these?

I am also noticing that all the roots seem much thinner at the base of the orchid, and wondering if this is normal? I don't know if I'm imaging it, but it seems like the dark/blackened part of the base is creeping upwards to me. Should I be worried?

[Roberta]

Please don't cut any more roots! Even an imperfect root is capable of hydrating the plant, giving it the strength to grow new ones. Time to stop molesting the plant and let it recover!

[lilin42]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Please don't cut any more roots! Even an imperfect root is capable of hydrating the plant, giving it the strength to grow new ones. Time to stop molesting the plant and let it recover!

I was hoping I could keep them, which is why I left them! I just didn't want to leave something that would simply rot or something similar, and wanted to consult some better-trained eyes.

I haven't really messed with it much since the first day, except to snip off the buds which seems to have stopped the leaf yellowing, but it's bare rooted so it's easy enough for me to just lift it up to show you guys.

[lilin42]

Hey guys! Just checking in and wondering if I can pick your brain about my mini phal one more time.

I've continued soaking for several hours each day, and over the weeks, the top three leaves have plumped up considerably. I am about to lose the very bottom leaf, but I am hopefully the other three will stay as they look much better than any of the ones I lost ever did.

At this point I've cut off both flower spikes, and the leaf in the middle is growing well. But I noticed these little marks on the new leaf, as well as something... fuzzy... on the stem (see pictures).

I never water as high as where the fuzz (I'm assuming fungus) is and I am careful to wipe off any water that gets between the leaves.

I did just leave it sitting for about 2 days in some water because I was out of town and I knew for sure I'd come home to a badly dehydrated plant if I didn't (it's been in the 90's with low humidity and my windows are massive -- I left the AC on, but there's no way to get the living room perfectly consistent). But the water was nowhere near that level. It didn't even come up to the base of the roots.

How worried should I be about this? Any advice? Thank you!

[Roberta]

The fuzzy stuff at the base of the plant looks from here a lot like a mealy bug. Stick a q-tip into rubbing alcohol, and touch it to the fuzzy thing. If it "dissolves" leaving a small naked soft-bodied bug under it, that is what it is. Spraying the plant with rubbing alcohol should knock them down... but you'll need to watch, and do it every few days. Would not worry about the spots on the leaf.

[lilin42]

Originally Posted by Roberta

The fuzzy stuff at the base of the plant looks from here a lot like a mealy bug. Stick a q-tip into rubbing alcohol, and touch it to the fuzzy thing. If it "dissolves" leaving a small naked soft-bodied bug under it, that is what it is. Spraying the plant with rubbing alcohol should knock them down... but you'll need to watch, and do it every few days. Would not worry about the spots on the leaf.

Thank you! I tried the rubbing alcohol trick, and it did make the fuzzy stuff collapse, but I didn't see a bug under it.

What I DID see is this!! Little red things everywhere!!

I took the clearest picture I could, but there's dozens and dozens of these! What on earth are they? Could they be ruining my leaves?

ETA: Took another picture with a better camera, hopefully this is clearer.

[Roberta]

Easy to miss the bug... it was a mealie. As for little red things, maybe spider mites? Or teensy spiders. I think the plant needs to be sprayed thoroughly with soapy water, at least. If you have Bayer's Advanced 3-in-1 (which contains both a systemic insecticide and a miticide) that would be better. Then you're going to have to treat every 5 days or so for at least 3 repeats, probably more. It looks like you have more than one kind of infestation going. Spiders are just messy (and you don't want them in your house) but spider mites can destroy leaves.

[lilin42]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Easy to miss the bug... it was a mealie. As for little red things, maybe spider mites? Or teensy spiders. I think the plant needs to be sprayed thoroughly with soapy water, at least. If you have Bayer's Advanced 3-in-1 (which contains both a systemic insecticide and a miticide) that would be better. Then you're going to have to treat every 5 days or so for at least 3 repeats, probably more. It looks like you have more than one kind of infestation going. Spiders are just messy (and you don't want them in your house) but spider mites can destroy leaves.

Thank you! Yeah, looks like a bunch of stuff was hiding under the leaf that just came off. *sigh* I'm going to try the Bayer's since I really want to stop the leaf loss as soon as possible.

Should I spray it with alcohol? That seems rough on the roots, but I'm not sure. I also have hydrogen peroxide.