I looked at my phrags today and there appears to be some little white bugs munching on the moist mix. they dont go on the leaves or flowers and they dont appear to be harming the plant, nor do they look like scale. Any ideas on what they are and how to kill them? I would post a pic, but they are too small for my digital camera. Can I use "Bayer advanced garden rose and flower" or malathion in the mix?

Malathion!

Smells horrible, but it seems to kill every insect it touches. I dunno exactly what insect you have, but death seems like a great solution to me.

--Stephen

I think the Bayer Rose and Flower is also a fertilizer, so you might not want to use that if you have your plants on a fert regimen already. I use Ortho Systemic Insect Killer for just about everything and I haven't found a bug it wouldn't kill. I haven't tried malathion but it probably does just as well. Sounds like you could have either mealy bugs or maybe some kind of fungus gnat larvae. Either way kill the boogers! :mean:

tell me more about this ortho systemic. where do you get it and its ok for all orchids right?

tell me more about this ortho systemic. where do you get it and its ok for all orchids right?

It used to be called Ortho Isotox. It comes in concentrate and you dilute it with water. Costs about $10-12 but a little goes a long way. I see it at HD, Lowe's Wal-Mart, it's pretty easy to find. I don't know if it is safe for *all* orchids, but I have used it on my catts, dens, paphs, phrags, vandas, oncs, cymbs, and phals. Plants that have a bad infestation get a hit once a week for 3 weeks. Make sure you follow the directions for dilution.

well, I just released a chemical death cloud of malathion in my greenhouse. there should be nothing moving by tomorrow "Mwahh haa haa" That was my evil laugh by the way. Thanks for all the input and I will check into that ortho systemic for next time.

I believe the Ortho one I have is called Orthonex. it stinks to high hell too, but seems to kill everything,.

I believe the Ortho one I have is called Orthonex. it stinks to high hell too, but seems to kill everything,.

I have used Orthonex too. It comes in an aerosol can and does work. The only reason I don't like it as much is that I run out of it pretty quickly and it's not cheap at $6 a can. If you don't like to mess with diluting chemicals it is the way to go. And oh yeah it is smelly stuff! :cheeky:

are they little white worm-lookin' things? those are often baby fungus gnats.
springtails, maybe?

I had something similar last winter on my moist medium in a Paph parishii pot. I posted a picture in this thread---> http://www.slipperorchidforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4011

They are really tiny little guys, and sounds like the same thing that you have.


Anyway, I sprayed mine with malathion, too, and it has since been treated with the merit Bayer spray. Haven't seen any more of them :)

Matt

Thats them. They died an honorable death at the hands of my sprayer.