Newbie asks: So, what are those little white things?
 

Hi. I'm new here and really innocent about all this orchid growing stuff. Although I have had some luck, I suspect it is more because I got good plants to start with than because of any skill or understanding on my part.

Anyhow, I have a number of plants: Phal, Pahp, Onc and Burr. Most of them seem to be doing ok, although I get impatient.

To water them, I mist and shower and submerge to soak. The first almost daily, the second biweekly or so (depending on season) and the third, who knows, monthly or 6-weekly... when they seem to need it. The Oncs in particluar need to soak up water and refill their reservoirs (or am I wrong?).

A year or so ago, I noticed that when I submerged some of them... I disremember who.... little white dots came crawling out of the potting media and wandered aimlessly about, avoiding the water I suppose, on the leaves of the plants.

They're almost too small to see. I have read about red mites and thrips and twospotted mites, but these don't seem to be the folks I am looking at and I have few, if any, other symptoms.

Well, things seemed to be ok, not great, mind you, but ok, but recently I noticed some yellowing or opaquing of some of the leaves and on the Burr in particular (which has begun to yellow at the tips and develop black spots inside the yellowing area).

Any suggestions on how best to address these visitors?

Thanks
 

for your reply. :waving
I sort of thought they weren't nothin.

The photo is of an Burrageara Kllauea "Volcanoe Queen."
More extreme leaf browning and even die back on a Paph Macabre x fairrieanum.

Both sit in a south facing window lightly shaded in Baltimore. House temps range 60-5 to 75-80, nite to day. I am not sure about the medium. It is a mix I bought from the greenhouse where I bought both plants. Feeding is every 2-3 weeks.

Stuff seems to be doing ok, I just suspect it could be better. And the blackening of the leaves does bother me.