What is this??? Phalaenopsis leaf damage - Page 2 - Orchid Board

Leafmite · #1 02-02-2012, 10:00 AM

Sorry about the mites. Neem oil is said to work on them.
Leafmite

silken · #2 02-02-2012, 10:24 AM

Wow, guess I have never seen a case of mites like that! I would consider treating the other plants as they spread easily and are too small to see. Even one mite that made it to another plant will start a new infestation.

camille1585 · #3 02-02-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silken

Wow, guess I have never seen a case of mites like that! I would consider treating the other plants as they spread easily and are too small to see. Even one mite that made it to another plant will start a new infestation.

It may not be a very bad mite infestation, some plants mount a exagerated 'immune' response against an attacker. In a lot of plants the production of a corky layer of cells is a defense mechanism to disuade the insects from feeding, but it seems that this plant has pushed it to the very extreme.

Gage · #4 02-02-2012, 10:39 AM

Sorry to hear that it is in fact mites. For what it's worth, I recently had a bad infestation of mites on one Phal and NONE of the plants around it had mites! But I did treat all the surrounding plants with a soap solution.

rachel.gazelles · #5 02-02-2012, 11:25 AM

:-( I'm hoping this is just an extreme response to a small infestation.. If I'd like to treat all other plants to kill and mites that may have gotten on them, what should I use? I currently have neem oil, and some of the dr. Brohners peppermint stuff that I use to control gnats. Would neem oil sprayed all over the plant help? Or do I need some other products?

Vanda lover · #6 02-02-2012, 11:51 AM

It wouldn't hurt to spray them just in case. Bud suggested water with a little dish soap and cinnamon oil or extract.

rachel.gazelles · #7 02-02-2012, 12:02 PM

Oh no, this is NOT a good day!! I have been going through my collection with a roll of paper towels and antibacterial gel and found 3 of the paphs close to this one evil phal have mites! Including my absolute FAVORITE huge NOID paph. It has a ton of leaves.. I dont know how I'm going to get down into every crevice to kill these mites.. This is just terrible!

Brenda Aarts · #8 02-02-2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanda lover

It wouldn't hurt to spray them just in case. Bud suggested water with a little dish soap and cinnamon oil or extract.

Yes, I have used this for mites last summer and occasionally as I suspect them to be on a plant. Just stay on top of it and spray weekly for a few weeks till it looks to be in the clear again. They're a pain, good luck.

rachel.gazelles · #9 02-02-2012, 01:12 PM

It looks like they are scattered around on different orchids in my whole collection :-( I have about 45 orchids.. so I think i'll have to really inspect every one of them..
Luckily the weather in Texas is in the high 60's - low 70's so I'll just take them all outside and give them a good spraying.. Do I need to also disinfect the decorative pots they're in and the area they're located in my house?

Brenda Aarts · #10 02-02-2012, 01:24 PM

While you have them out spraying them I would wipe down (with the spray) any shelving etc that the plants are on. Make sure you put fans on them and they dry out by night time, I complicated my issues last year by not fully drying and some of my plants started to rot. Try not to panic, you're on top of it now, I know it's frustrating. If you see any black little balls on the leaves or surroundings, the pots etc...that is also evidence of mites. Some growers have told me it is the mites eggs, and another grower has said it's their poop, regardless, I don't like seeing them!!! Mites like dry environments I have read and I had my major issues last summer when my sunroom was very hot and dry.