Tiny bugs? help, my first orchid..

[Melanie]

Today when watering my Dendrobium I noticed tiny little bugs scurrying about the roots, although they didn't seem disturbed by the water. I don't see them anywhere else on the plant, although there does seem to be some kind of cluster of white fungus, which could very well be egg sacs of some kind.

I've done a little research and it seems they might be mealybugs, but I thought I'd ask a forum! Please help, this is my first orchid and I've watched 5 buds bloom- i'm in love with this plant!

Also- how did they get there? I've had it for about a month, it's my only plant and it's indoors. If I could learn prevent this in the future that would be great as well.

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If it's soft bodied, white and fuzzy, and looks like a pill bug underneath all that white fuzz, it's a mealy.

I did battle with these punks yesterday on my Grammangis elisii. Used rubbing alcohol. Nuked them and the ants that were protecting them.

[BikerDoc5968]

Mealybugs don't usually "scurry." They are white and usually in a cottony mass. Pictures are always helpful. Things like this typically come in on the plant unnoticed because the hide out deep in the leaf axials or on the underside of leaves and then when the infestation grows large enough suddenly... OMG and the question where'd they come from???!!! Even the most cautious and expert amoung us (certainly this does not include me) have brought home a pest or two...for me it never ends!

[Melanie]

i can't tell if they're fuzzy, they are very tiny.. they went away after the water soaked up so I haven't been able to look at them again, but they look like very very tiny ants.

i'll take a picture when i get back from class, maybe just to show at least the white growth thing..

thanks guys!

[Ross]

To be on the safe side, consider drenching with a relatively safe product such as Schultz's Garden Safe Insecticide which you can get in large spray containers in Home Depot. It contains pyrethrins (an insecticide made from certain flowers) and canola oil. I find that a pretty good (not perfect) deterent for lots of critters. Only way I know of to get down into potting mix.

[Melanie]

jeeze i have no idea how this works.. i uploaded pics to Flickr but I don't know how to get my URL. Umm.. if this doesn't work, my username is Melawesome and it's the first 3 pics.

what are those white things? on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[Des]

Difficult to tell from your pic but if they are triangular in shape , it might be white fly. They are usually only seen on the leaves though . The reason they disappear is that they fly off when you water and return later. They can spread virus though, so go to your local garden shop and buy a poison that is specifically made for these pests as they can be difficult to get rid of.
Regards Des

[Melanie]

the white things i linked to don't move, i feel like they are a fungus or egg sac of some kind..

the little bugs don't show up on my camera, they're so tiny! I blew on them to get them to start moving again so they might be in that 2nd pic somewhere..

[Des]

If that is one of the bugs in the top right side of your pic then i would say that it is white fly. Have a look under the leaves you should find more of them there . Oh and that plant desperately needs to be repotted into fresh media

Des

[Ross]

Those white things are mini mushrooms. Plane and simple. It means the mix is rotting. Best way to cure is to repot with new mix.