Thanks to the group for your help with my scale problem last month, I
sprayed and dunked and it looks like I might have saved most of the problem
orchids. I have two new orchids, received as a present about two weeks ago,
one has a large clump of white stuff under its leaf (small cat), looks like
loose dandruff. Is this also scale? Any advise would be very much
appreciated. thanks M.A

Maryann,

If it has feelers and legs it's scale. If not then it's probably biosduval
scale. Boisduval is worse to get rid of. Use a cotton ball soaked with
rubbing alcohol to wipe it off. Then spray the plant with an
alcohol/soap/oil mixture. Be sure to get the top and bottom of the leaves.
See the recipe on Rays site at www.firstrays.com . Repeat this spray every
week for three weeks. Use it on any plant that has been close to the
infested plant.

Repotting is also a good idea as they may be in the pot. Check under the
leaf sheaths also. You can pull off the dry ones. It's a favorite place to
hide. If they are in grooves in the pseudobulbs you can use a soft bristle
tooth brush dipped or sprayed in the alcohol mix to get them.

Bob


"Maryann Albano" wrote in message
nk.net...
Thanks to the group for your help with my scale problem last month, I
sprayed and dunked and it looks like I might have saved most of the
problem
orchids. I have two new orchids, received as a present about two weeks
ago,
one has a large clump of white stuff under its leaf (small cat), looks
like
loose dandruff. Is this also scale? Any advise would be very much
appreciated. thanks M.A

Maryann,

Another possibility is mealie bugs. If an infestation of mealies is heavy
they can look like cotton. The same treatment that Bob mentioned will work
for them.

Diana