tiny white bugs
 

Help!!! I bought 2 phals 4 days ago from Home Depo. When I water them
tiny white bugs appear out of the potting media. Anyone else get that??
They don't come out except when I first water. Any ideas?? Also, the
leaves of one phal are wrinkled but seem to be lifting a bit. I haven't
overwatered. I watered it on Sunday when I got it and then again today,
Thursday because I checked the bottom of the pot and it was dry. Do I
just need to wait a bit while the plant gets used to a home environment??
Two of the 3 buds are in bloom but one of the buds already turned yellow
and I plucked it off, but new buds are growing. Thank you so much. I
already killed two phals last year...please don't ask. I don't want to be
a "repeat offender". Thanks again.

I read some place (in here) where the tiny white bugs might be
harmless bark decaying bugs or whatever. In that case changing the
medium (spraghum moss is good) will fix that, but not if you want to
keep the flowers. Make sure you don't have mealy bugs, do a google
search and you'll see what they look like. As for the wrinkly
appearance, that's probably due to the plant having no roots. When you
repot it cut out all the black hollow roots and use new medium.
Stearilize your tools and feel down inside the rim of the plant to see
if it's dry. Tell us where your plant's at (what window) and how you
treat it. There's some real smart people in here that can help you
alot. Read up on the care of phals. I had one that had two flowers and
lost one due to it getting too hot one day in my room. Now I have one
with 10 buds and 3 blossoms by probably tomorrow.......Burr

Most likely they are "springtails," which apparently don't do harm to your
plants, but in my opinion, they are yet another indicator that the potting
medium is "going south" and needs to be replaced. I wouldn't do so until
the plant is done blooming, but you'll want to do so as soon after that as
you can.

--

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


wrote in message
...
I read some place (in here) where the tiny white bugs might be
harmless bark decaying bugs or whatever. In that case changing the
medium (spraghum moss is good) will fix that, but not if you want to
keep the flowers. Make sure you don't have mealy bugs, do a google
search and you'll see what they look like. As for the wrinkly
appearance, that's probably due to the plant having no roots. When you
repot it cut out all the black hollow roots and use new medium.
Stearilize your tools and feel down inside the rim of the plant to see
if it's dry. Tell us where your plant's at (what window) and how you
treat it. There's some real smart people in here that can help you
alot. Read up on the care of phals. I had one that had two flowers and
lost one due to it getting too hot one day in my room. Now I have one
with 10 buds and 3 blossoms by probably tomorrow.......Burr

On Thu, 19 May 2005 19:36:12 -0400, orchidnewbie wrote:

Help!!! I bought 2 phals 4 days ago from Home Depo. When I water them
tiny white bugs appear out of the potting media. Anyone else get that??
They don't come out except when I first water. Any ideas?? Also, the
leaves of one phal are wrinkled but seem to be lifting a bit. I haven't
overwatered. I watered it on Sunday when I got it and then again today,
Thursday because I checked the bottom of the pot and it was dry. Do I
just need to wait a bit while the plant gets used to a home environment??
Two of the 3 buds are in bloom but one of the buds already turned yellow
and I plucked it off, but new buds are growing. Thank you so much. I
already killed two phals last year...please don't ask. I don't want to be
a "repeat offender". Thanks again.


Springtails or soil mites. Harmless. They feed on organic matter. Letting
the soil dry out between waterings is one control method.

Hi, Newb,

the yellowing of that bud, it's called bud blast, and is not uncommon
when a plant is moved through different environments during its blooming
cycle. Others gave you good advice about the bugs.

Sounds like you're actually doing okay.

Diana