My phalaenopsis have done all right in the past. But now they have
stopped developing new leaves for some six months and the existing ones
do not look well. While they are deep green, they have secreted
something that looks and feels like a water-clear, dry varnish that is
spread out very thinly and in patches, mostly on the top surface, but
also underneath. There are also a few brownish scales, some roundish.
Any idea on how I can bring the plants back to life? Should I wash the
leaves, and if so, with what? Is lemon juice a possibility? Should I
repot them? Thanks in advance for advice.

Hi, from a new member. I usually "luk" to get a feel of how a group
interacts, but your question is one with which I can relate. I had the
same proble/s. Advice I received on that clear vranishy stuff was that
it will go of its own accord and won't harm the plant. Feel free to
ignore that if you want to. I ignored the varnishy stuff and worked on
the little brown scales. Mine wer scale insects. They will igmore lemon
juice I'm afraid, so I hope you can face something a bit less organic
than that. I had to use cotton buds soaked in methylated spirits to
wipe/scrape off teh scale insects one by one. Time consuming, but they
can't be shifted with a gentle rinse down.
Funny though, once they had gone, the clear varnishy stuff hasn't come
back (yet)?

Hope this helps.

It does rather sound like scale insects. I use a small brush and methylated spirits (or brandy or vodka!) to deal with them.

The 'clear varnish' is the excreted by the insect and contain sugars. If left, it could attract ants and a black sooty mould. None of these are harmful to the plant, but not really appreciated by orchidists.

If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, your plant may have stopped growing because it is winter. Otherwise, check for signs of root rot.

Weng

Sounds like a mixed bag of potential issues.

First the easy one: Dip a soft toothbrush in soapy water (on the lines of
Joy or Dawn), and gently scrub both sides of all of the leaves. it will
clean up the deposits and remove the scale insects.

A general stalling of growth could either be directly nutritional, so share
the fertilizer formula, strength applied and frequency so we can look at
that, or it may be that the medium is in such bad shape that it is stressing
the plant and possibly has damaged the root system such that they cannot
absorb water and nutrients well.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies, Artwork, Books and Lots of Free Info!


"Leon" wrote in message
oups.com...
My phalaenopsis have done all right in the past. But now they have
stopped developing new leaves for some six months and the existing ones
do not look well. While they are deep green, they have secreted
something that looks and feels like a water-clear, dry varnish that is
spread out very thinly and in patches, mostly on the top surface, but
also underneath. There are also a few brownish scales, some roundish.
Any idea on how I can bring the plants back to life? Should I wash the
leaves, and if so, with what? Is lemon juice a possibility? Should I
repot them? Thanks in advance for advice.

With all due respect to Weng, the best use for the brandy or vodka is to
keep YOU going while you de-infest the plants G. For the plants, stick
with rubbing (rather than drinking) alcohol, or the soapy water that Ray
suggested. If you are thorough, this will get rid of all the scale above
the potting medium.

Since you say this has been going on for some 6 months, the insects may also
be down in your potting mix, perhaps chewing on your roots. You need to
check those anyway, to see if there's some other problem (e.g., if they're
pale, thin, dry and crumbly, you haven't been watering enough; if they're
dark and soft/mushy, you've been keeping them way too wet). So re-potting
wouldn't be a bad idea, either. [I don't recall your location, but around
here, it's getting to be about that time, anyway.] I don't like to use the
alcohol or soap on the roots, but a good rinse will probably do, along with
fresh mix, to get rid of any insects that have gotten down there.

If the problem reappears after that, consider a systemic insecticide. Good
growing,
--
Kenni Judd
Juno Beach Orchids



"Leon" wrote in message
oups.com...
My phalaenopsis have done all right in the past. But now they have
stopped developing new leaves for some six months and the existing ones
do not look well. While they are deep green, they have secreted
something that looks and feels like a water-clear, dry varnish that is
spread out very thinly and in patches, mostly on the top surface, but
also underneath. There are also a few brownish scales, some roundish.
Any idea on how I can bring the plants back to life? Should I wash the
leaves, and if so, with what? Is lemon juice a possibility? Should I
repot them? Thanks in advance for advice.