Tiny white bugs when I water
 

Hello Everyone.
I've been have a problem with some of my phals when I water.
Most of my phals are grown in bark, but when I water one particular
plant tiny white bugs crawl onto the aerial roots because, I guess
they're afraid to drown.
Are these bugs harmful, they don't look like mealy bugs or scales, but
I guess they do live in the medium.
Could they possible be aphids?
I want to get rid of them because I don't know if they're a potential
threat to my plant
-Eric

wrote:
Hello Everyone.
I've been have a problem with some of my phals when I water.
Most of my phals are grown in bark, but when I water one particular
plant tiny white bugs crawl onto the aerial roots because, I guess
they're afraid to drown.
Are these bugs harmful, they don't look like mealy bugs or scales, but
I guess they do live in the medium.
Could they possible be aphids?
I want to get rid of them because I don't know if they're a potential
threat to my plant
-Eric


Probably springtails. Not technically harmful, but probably a good sign
that the potting mix is breaking down. They eat the things that eat
your bark (fungus, bacteria, etc).

I don't think I've ever seen aphids on a phal... Doesn't mean they
couldn't be there, I guess. But they wouldn't crawl out of the mix.

Rob

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1) There is always room for one more orchid
2) There is always room for two more orchids
2a) See rule 1
3) When one has insufficient credit to obtain more
orchids, obtain more credit

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 14:21:34 -0700, eric_mayer wrote:

Hello Everyone.
I've been have a problem with some of my phals when I water. Most of my
phals are grown in bark, but when I water one particular plant tiny white
bugs crawl onto the aerial roots because, I guess they're afraid to drown.
Are these bugs harmful, they don't look like mealy bugs or scales, but I
guess they do live in the medium.
Could they possible be aphids?
I want to get rid of them because I don't know if they're a potential
threat to my plant
-Eric


Most likely springtails or soil mites, both harmless. They feast on damp
organic matter. Control is to keep soil on the dry side.