Do I have SCALE?!
 

Hello,

I have a very young Oncidium (Dancing Lady type) orchid that I have recently repotted from an older plant that I purchased from a big-box garden center. I just noticed that there are very tiny, white, powder-like deposits on the leaves. At first, I thought these were salts deposited from evaporated fertilizer, but now I think it may be scale.

I have never had any pests, aside from a few small gnats. How can I identify for sure? Should I be concerned for my two Phals living next to it (thankfully, the rest of my collection are in other rooms). Can it spread? I read in an article that rubbing alcohol rubbed on the leaves can stop the bugs. Is this correct? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

John

i,ll let someone else answer this.

Hi John,

Powder like...sounds more like mealy bugs to me. See if this link looks like what you are talking about Control mealy bug using safe and effective Cryptolaemus or Hypoaspis

Scale normally isn't powdery or fuzzy. The females have hard outer shells like a helmet.

If it is a pest it can spread yes. Make sure your infected plants are far from what is healthy. Also might want to check your other plants to make sure there was no traveling. Ants are famous for transferring pests from one plant to another, so if there are any ants where you grow your plants you may have to really check them all.

As for pest control, I use insecticidal soap which works really good. It's pretty safe to use I think. You can pick it up at like Home Depot or Lowes, or a garden center. Works really good on mealy bugs.

At this point any response is just a guess....I'd like a picture....it's worth tons to point the answer in the right direction.

I think it's mealybugs also. Powder-like deposits is usually mealies. Alcohol is what I use. They do spread as DJ mentioned, so isolate them all and check them good.
I had mealies on three phals throughout the summer. They are a little work to get them all off, but it's definitely doable. Recheck and recheck as it takes a while. I have a diluted form of alcohol in a spray bottle that I used on the leaves and stems and any roots sticking out. Then I use Q-tips/alcohol on the ones that may be in the blooms itself and carefully remove them. When the alcohol hits them, they turn from white to a dark color. They are expert hiders, so look closely.
Scale is more milky color, I would say, and looks like little round dots.....you kind of have to scrape it off the plant with your fingernail...it doesn't come off as easily as mealies.
Pictures are the best form of ID-ing pests as Doc says. :)

Here is a link to pictures of pests . On Seedlings I would use the Safers insect soap as DJ mentioned .
Diagnosing culture problems - Pests

Gin, Great link! Good to know!!!!! :)