Is this scale?

[AnonYMouse]

There is also an association with ants so ant control needs to be part of your routine.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

I would take them off and make sure nothing drops on the potting mix just in case.
I also read that once they are taken off the plants, they die, but I also read that as they are taken off, eggs that are in that "hard" shell also come off.

I once had hard time with scales. I used toobrush to dislodge them off my plant. They kept coming back. I think it was probaly all the little babied hatched from egss that were dropped on the potting mix. just my opinion.
Once I noticed that scales spread to my other plant, I tossed them. That was a few months ago and I haven't seen any scales since.

You want to also check all possible hidden corners of your plant and make sure you don't see any.
These little things are very good at hiding at any possible little crack.
Check the crown, check the area where leaves meet, the base and the joint where roots and base meet...check everywhere. You may find more!
Also, scales are highly mobile when young. These younger bugs are even harder to see as they are smaller.
They crawl and even travel in the wind.
So I would isolate the affected plant away away from other plants. Scales are VERY hard to iradicate once you have them.

As I mentioned, I tossed two that were infested after trying all I could but only found they were still around and driving me nuts!

It was a cattleya. I had another cattleya from the same seller on which I found two scale bugs. I gave the plant back to the seller for spraying with chemical. I am supposed to get the plant back in two months or so.

Thank you NY. I appreciate your advice. I am considering treating it systemically. I just worry about the toxicity of the plant after I treat it since I have three cats (ones with whiskers, not p-bulbs) who might nibble

---------- Post added at 07:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:34 PM ----------

Originally Posted by AnonYMouse

There is also an association with ants so ant control needs to be part of your routine.

Thank you, I grow indoors. This is a new arrival...that brought creepy friends

[NYCorchidman]

If your cats nibble on the leaves, then you have to find a way to keep the catss off the plant. I don't have cats, so I don't know how but somehow you would have to.

Maybe enclose the plant(s) with fine mesh net container or something.
How new is your plant? if you just got it, why dont' you contact the seller and get a replacement if there is a replacement plant of the same variety available??
I warn you, scales are very persistent. systemic might be the surest way, but I don't know of any brand. I personally don't want to use strong chemicals. I'm a hobby home grower and anything I cannot handle without chemical, I throw away.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

If your cats nibble on the leaves, then you have to find a way to keep the catss off the plant. I don't have cats, so I don't know how but somehow you would have to.

Maybe enclose the plant(s) with fine mesh net container or something.
How new is your plant? if you just got it, why dont' you contact the seller and get a replacement if there is a replacement plant of the same variety available??
I warn you, scales are very persistent. systemic might be the surest way, but I don't know of any brand. I personally don't want to use strong chemicals. I'm a hobby home grower and anything I cannot handle without chemical, I throw away.

I may have to put the plant in the dining room and close the door. It arrived two days ago (with crawling luggage)

[NYCorchidman]

Well, then it is brandnew.
It's upto you.

[shadytrake]

Terro for the ants.

[Leafmite]

My cinnamon tree was covered in scale so I used a systemic and cleaned off the scale with isopropyl alcohol and cotton balls, then sprayed a few days later with alcohol. Scale seem to absolutely adore the cinnamon. Bud, are you certain it helps to get rid of them? Just kidding. Cassia is hotter than the verum/zeylanicum.
I have had a few plants react badly to the systemic but orchids never seem to mind. Good luck!

---------- Post added at 10:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 PM ----------

I love Terro.

[SJF]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

My cinnamon tree was covered in scale so I used a systemic and cleaned off the scale with isopropyl alcohol and cotton balls, then sprayed a few days later with alcohol. Scale seem to absolutely adore the cinnamon. Bud, are you certain it helps to get rid of them? Just kidding. Cassia is hotter than the verum/zeylanicum.
I have had a few plants react badly to the systemic but orchids never seem to mind. Good luck!

---------- Post added at 10:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 PM ----------

I love Terro.

Thank you.

So frustrating. We all love to bring new orchids into our collections, but not the pests. It is hard when you grow in the home. I can't just overspray.

[quiltergal]

I've used Bonide systemic with limited success. It is intended to be used in soil. It is granular so every time you water a little bit washes away. Bayer 3 in 1 will kill the egg and larval stage. You can use it as a drench and a foliar spray. Then you just have to scrape off the mature ones. I think you have to treat every 7-10 days to make sure you are getting that alternating life cycle.

[NYCorchidman]

Bayer 3 in 1 doesn't harm orchids? like yellowing or dropping leaves?
Also, bugs don't develop resistancy to Bayer over time?