Thrips - dish soap or insecticide?

[Dendy83]

Hi everyone,

I'm pretty sure I have what is called "thrips" on my orchids. They are extremely small, white, and don't even show up until I water them...then they are crawling all over the place. I have done some research on the board already and plan on going out tomorrow to get something...IF I need too.

What do you think of what method is best to get rid of them? I intend to buy more potting soil already and will repot asap. I have Dawn dishsoap, which is safe enough to use on just about anything if it's diluted enough. Some drops of dishsoap in a gallon bucket and let the orchid sit in the bucket for 5 minutes? Or should I buy an insecticide? Or both??

Some advice very soon would be helpful, I hate hate hate ha htahthahathhate bugs like this. Especially things that are small and can populate quickly (like fruit flies or those tiny gnats). They just never seem to go away.

On a similar issue, is it because my orchids are being kept too wet for too long or were they brought it from something else (potting soil, another orchid, etc)?

Thanks for your advice.