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Apr 23, 2015 9:13 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Aimee
Long Island (Zone 7a)
Hello,
I bought an Orchid yesterday from a BBS and low and behold, this morning I wake up to discover what I think is a spider mite infestation. There are whitish webs all over the base of the plant and some between leaves as well. [I'm VERY itchy right now, lol]
The leaves are starting to get spotty and bruised.
I've moved the orchid as far away from my other house plants as possible.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good home-made pesticide recipe that will be safe for the plant?
I would really appreciate the help!
"I don't care about spots on my apples- leave me the birds and the bees"
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Apr 23, 2015 9:31 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Welcome to ATP, Aimee.

Mix 3 tbls. of dish detergent in a gallon of water and liberally spray the orchid plant and media. Generally spider mites attack the underside of leaves, so be sure you cover those surfaces. You might have to spray again after 5-7 days. Do keep the plant quarantined as well. That is if you want to keep the plant. I don't know what BBS is, but you can always take the plant back to them and ask for a replacement or a refund.

Good luck.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Apr 23, 2015 9:48 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Aimee
Long Island (Zone 7a)
Thank you for the help, Ken!
BBS is big box store. I try not to buy plants from those places (like home depot & Lowes, this one came from BJ's), but this one was actually a gift from my Fiance who doesn't know anything about plants. He feels badly that he gave me mites. lol
I'd like to try to keep the plant since it was a gift. Thank you for the recipe!

I'm not very good at keeping orchids at all, they always die when I buy them. And I'm not sure what kind of orchid this is, I thought maybe a Dendrobium?
Here's a pic
He's living in a small foyer without any natural light for now because I was worried about my other plants Sad
Thumb of 2015-04-23/AimeeLane/723131
"I don't care about spots on my apples- leave me the birds and the bees"
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Apr 23, 2015 10:19 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
No, that is a Phalaenopsis aka "Moth Orchid". Those are typically the ones you see for sell at the Lowe's and Wal Marts. Here is one of mine in full bloom. I don't really grow many of them, but keep a handful just because they bloom so doggone long. You do know that I grow and sell orchids as well as other tropical plants, right? Whistling

Moth orchids will be labeled with either Phal. or Dtps. and then the name of the variety. My orchid is the Dtps. Lucia 'Pink'.

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drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Apr 23, 2015 10:19 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
It's a nice little Phalaenopsis, Aimee. I'd be sure to rinse off the soap you used on the mites with a spray of warm water.

Also it's extremely important that the pot your orchid is in has drainage, and air holes. Looks like it's in a little tin bucket that maybe doesn't drain. Those type of orchid like to let their roots dry out between waterings, and they like their roots to have lots of air in general. Check that there isn't a huge wad of soggy moss in the pot, which is very common for BBS orchids. That will spell certain death by root rot.

It will need some light to survive, too. As long as you can keep it 5ft. or so away from the other plants it might be better to bring it nearer to a window.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Apr 23, 2015 12:35 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Aimee
Long Island (Zone 7a)
aah, okay. The tag that it came with just said "Orchid" with instructions to water with 3 ice cubes once a week to "keep plant alive for several months". I'm assuming that it can live much longer, right?
Ken, I wasn't aware that you sell tropicals, where are you located and do you ship plants? I live on Long Island.

I made sure to rinse the soap off well. Ty Elaine! Also, there are absolutely no holes for drainage in the tin "pot" that it came in, but I planned on repotting it anyway. Perhaps in a heavier pot because it seems like it wants to tip over now. Smiling
"I don't care about spots on my apples- leave me the birds and the bees"
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Apr 23, 2015 2:37 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Aimee, my website is always there below my name on the posts. I am in NE Mississippi and ship to every state except Hawaii. I ship to PR as well but not internationally.

The picture you saw is a Dtps. (Phal.) that I have had for three years. It was a "donated" orchid, given to me by a friend who said the plant was dead and if I could bring it back to life, it was mine. The flowers are on the same stem that bloomed last year. Don't cut off that old stem(s) after blooming unless the stem is brown, dry, and brittle. If it is green/purple, leave it be.

Forget the ice-cube watering method (its a gimmick and like most gimmicks, it is a worthless suggestion). Like Elaine said, if there is sphagnum moss, get rid of it and replace it with orchid media. You can find a small bag of this media (there may even be Phal. orchid media available) in your big box store's plant area. Be sure your pot has lots of drainage and even better, get an orchid pot with lots of slits/holes on the side walls. More orchids die of "drowning" than all other causes put together. Notice how there are roots that just dangle in the air above your plant. Keep those roots above your planting media. Phal. like their roots to be exposed to lots of air. Also, if you don't have one, get a good quality, pump-up mister/sprayer. Keeping tropical plants inside, with our dry air, is hard on them. By their very nature, they like high humidity. That mister, used every day or two, will help restore the conditions that tropicals thrive on. Your other indoor plants will benefit as well. Most houseplants are tropical plants.

Once you have rid your plant of the spider mites, be on the lookout for mealy bugs. I don't know why, but of all the orchids I grow (over 600 now) only the Phal./Dtps. seem to attract these small, destructive insects.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Last edited by drdawg Apr 24, 2015 6:13 AM Icon for preview
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Apr 24, 2015 6:02 AM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
Welcome! Aimee! Good info Ken and Ellaine
©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
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Apr 24, 2015 6:14 AM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Thanks, Gigi.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
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Apr 24, 2015 7:23 AM CST
Name: Melissa
Memphis, TN (Zone 8a)
Bee Lover Enjoys or suffers hot summers Permaculture Orchids Hummingbirder Hostas
Greenhouse Dog Lover Cat Lover Garden Photography Region: Tennessee
Welcome, Aimee. Welcome!

Just in case we have inspired your beginning addiction to orchids, here is the link to care sheets that are free from the American Orchid Society.

http://www.aos.org/Default.asp...
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Apr 24, 2015 10:22 AM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
My co worker just asked me for help on her first orchid. It is a miniature one she purchased from HD. The leaves look dried out and the roots are beginning to show major sign of dehydration. It is still on its original spagnum moss no drain container. The moss is dry to the touch.

I just misted it to see if I can rehydrate it back to life before attempting to repot it in an orchid bark. Not looking good!

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©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
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Apr 24, 2015 10:48 AM CST
Name: Jim Hawk
Odessa, Florida (Zone 9b)
Birds Master Gardener: Florida Hibiscus Greenhouse Charter ATP Member Garden Photography
Bromeliad Region: Florida Orchids Roses Tropicals Region: United States of America
If iit were mine, I would repot it in a proper pot with bark right away. Then soak it in rain water for ten minutes or so. You can put tape over the bark so it doesn't float off. Mist and water often until it recovers.

Jim
"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." -- Steven Leacock
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Apr 24, 2015 11:07 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Aimee
Long Island (Zone 7a)
Ken, I checked out your website and you have some really nice plants! If I manage to not kill this one, I will most likely be ordering! Do you grow Orchids from seeds? I was reading about how much of a process it is!

I still have yet to repot it. It doesn't look like there's any moss in there. It looks like pieces of bark as far as I can tell. The spider mites seem to have left (Knock on wood). And as for mealy bugs, a great deal of my house plants are Cacti so I have some experience with them unfortunately. Sad
I gave it a misting today. Other than the bugs, it seems to be a pretty healthy plant.

Thank you every one for the advice and the welcomes!
Melissa- I don't know about an addiction yet, I'll have to see how this one turns out, lol. but I'll check out that link, Thank You!
"I don't care about spots on my apples- leave me the birds and the bees"
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Apr 24, 2015 11:18 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Aimee
Long Island (Zone 7a)
What do you think of this orchid pot that I found on repotme.com? Is it a gimmick? I like it because it is different, but don't want it if it isn't practical or beneficial.

Thumb of 2015-04-24/AimeeLane/03507a
"I don't care about spots on my apples- leave me the birds and the bees"
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Apr 24, 2015 12:30 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Gigi, sometimes it takes a week or two for the leaves to recover from that shrivelly, wilty state. But don't worry they will recover. I've had several do that routine and they have all recovered. I realized this week that I still have the two Phals that my daughter gave me for my b'day 5 years ago, my first two orchids!

I'd do as Jim suggested and repot into bark mix, and soak. Then keep in fairly low light and mist at least daily until it plumps up again. Orchids are slow growers.

Aimee, not sure about that pot, the slatted sides with lots of air space look good, but does the saucer have holes? If not, you really don't want the base of your orchid sitting in any water.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Apr 24, 2015 12:51 PM CST
Name: Ken Ramsey
Vero Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Bromeliad Vegetable Grower Region: United States of America Tropicals Plumerias Orchids
Region: Mississippi Master Gardener: Mississippi Hummingbirder Cat Lover Composter Seller of Garden Stuff
Aimee, I too am a little leery of that pot. I don't see the practicality of it and you sure don't want a catch-saucer staying full of water. Just stick to tried and true orchid pots.

No, I don't grow orchid from seed. I would have to have perfectly controlled growing conditions and an almost sterile laboratory set-up to do so. I neither have the facilities nor the experience to do this. I will let the commercial growers and the pros grow from seed or tissue culture. I buy my orchids after a year or two growing, and though still tiny, they are more manageable for me.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)

The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
Last edited by drdawg Apr 24, 2015 2:57 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 24, 2015 2:27 PM CST
Name: Carol
Santa Ana, ca
Sunset zone 22, USDA zone 10 A.
Bookworm Charter ATP Member Region: California Hummingbirder Orchids Plant Identifier
Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
Hmm. That pot might be ok for a cache pot, but I wouldn't actually plant an orchid in it.
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Apr 24, 2015 3:38 PM CST
Name: Gigi AdeniumPlumeria
Florida (Zone 9b)
Adeniums Roses Plumerias Orchids Miniature Gardening Hibiscus
Region: Florida Container Gardener Garden Photography Cactus and Succulents Butterflies Garden Ideas: Level 1
Thanks Jim and Elaine, I'm so scared to repot it because it is not mine. I killed a few phals from repotting but will definitely give this a chance.

Beautiful pot Aimee, that maybe good for temporary display when you have guests but that's about it.
©by Gigi Adenium Plumeria "Gardening is my favorite pastime. I grow whatever plant that catches my attention. I also enjoy hand pollinating desert roses.”
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Apr 24, 2015 4:34 PM CST
Name: Kathy
Western MA

Charter ATP Member I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Dog Lover Region: Northeast US Orchids Irises
Enjoys or suffers cold winters
I looked up the pots and that's just a drip tray on bottom. I would try them.
http://www.repotme.com/orchito...
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Apr 24, 2015 5:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Aimee
Long Island (Zone 7a)
Ken,
I read how difficult it is to grow orchids from seeds. Would be interesting to talk to someone who has done it successfully. Doesn't seem like it would be worth the expense though.

I think I'm going to give the pot a try! I know that it's a risk and I would probably have enough trouble trying to keep it alive in a traditional pot but what the heck. It will be a fun experiment. I'll let everyone know how it goes.
I like to see what kind of containers I can get away with growing things in. Right now I have a cactus growing in a little clear capsule in my car and it's starting to bloom! I have several cacti growing in an Easter egg, and my Fiance had a fit when I drilled holes in his vintage soup bowl for my succulents Smiling

Gigi, you said you have Phals die from repotting-do you have any advice for repotting mine?
"I don't care about spots on my apples- leave me the birds and the bees"

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