Orchids with Scale

[Josey Humbert-Sabo]

I have only a few orchids. I am in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I am having trouble I think with some "scale" bugs. Also, I think I have not been watering correctly. Altho my orchids did very well for several years, now the leaves are getting droopy and soft. They are mostly phalenopsis (?)
What do you use to get rid of scale bugs?

[Cjcorner]

I've been fighting scale for awhile, but on cattleya. My methods might kill a phal because I have to completely dunk mine in a chemical mixture...neem oil, murphys oil soap, and anything else I can think of to throw at them! I leave my plants totally immersed and then go over them with a toothpick and toothbrush. The toothbrush removes all the old stuff off of p-bulbs. Toothpicks get into the hard to reach places. Of course, again, this is for Catts. I haven't ever had scale on my phals...yet.
Connie

[ischel1]

First I would ask you if you are sure it's scale. Like Connie I too have had scale on my Catts, but never my phals. Can you post a pic of the critter so we can give you some help?

[Brutal_Dreamer]

First I would ask you if you are sure it's scale. Like Connie I too have had scale on my Catts, but never my phals. Can you post a pic of the critter so we can give you some help?

Welcome to the forum. I am also in Arkansas. I am the president of the Orchid Society in your area actually. If you want to bring one of your infected plants to a meeting, any of our senior growers would be happy to help you figure out what to do. Orchid Society of the Ozarks

In the mean time, post a photo of your 'bugs' and your phal and let us take a look here on-line.

Cheers,
BD

[Gin]

Is it brown scale little oval brown things stuck on the leaves mainly on the underside ? They like Phals . Gin

[Becky15349]

I don't know anything about scale really, but I'd like to see a picture as well so I can learn about it

[Ron-NY]

scale can attack Phals as well...
I use isopropyl alcohol ...spray the plant and use a rag soaked in it to clean off the scale. I then spray all leaf surfaces with an ulta light horticultural oil mixed with water. Never do this on a bright and sunny day. I repeat the oils spray every week to 10 days for 3 treatments.

[Josey Humbert-Sabo]

Bruce, thank you so much for your reply. I actually attended the show/sale in Rogers last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope to attend the meeting of 3/22. Anyway, they are tiny brown upside down cups, they seem to excrete some sort of sticky substance . I keep scraping them off and discarding them with my fingernails. However, after reading some of the basic info on this website-----I'm surprised my orchids have managed to survive at all. Probably have them in wrong pots, overwater, seldom feed, under heat/air vent, no moisture tray or fan. But they have been blooming each spring. Actually, the scale appeared on the orchid I bought at the show last year and seems to have spread since. That plant looked sure to die so I took it out of pot removed all bark I could, sprayed the tons of bug-killer on entire plant and replanted it. It grew a new sprout and old growth seemed to come around. It is a Pacific Sizzle Senorita x Pacific Sunsplash Gnarly 360l, whatever that means. I just thought it was pretty and got one for myself and my daughter who is also interested in orchids.

Thanks again for your reply. I hope to see you on March 22.

Josey

[Gin]

It is brown scale , be careful scraping them off the babies are under the scale and are easily scattered . I have used Safer' s insect soap available at the big box stores , Bayer makes a spray in a blue bottle .
The oil is good if you can find it. I have used regular dormant oil (diluted) that is used on fruit trees . Gin