Here is a picture of the entire plant.

Here is a picture of the entire plant.

{{!gwi}}

I've got around 45 orchids, mostly phals, catts, and those in the oncidium group. I'm new to the hobby, but have come to the conclusion that you have to tolerate a certain amount of leaf damage, whether fungal, insect, etc. I tend mine every week and get rid of scale and mealy bugs. Still I have all kinds of spots. The flowers are what counts, IMO.

I agree with vt andrea in that you won't be able to avoid leaf spots and an occassional yellowing here and there. However, as long as the plant looks healthy ... you should be OK.

Mealy bugs are fairly easy to get rid off with a little man made soap and veggie oil/neem oil solution. Scales are harder and I wound up having to physically scrape or rub them off the leaves.

Nice collection vtandrea!

I have about 60 different types of orchids and most of my dendrobiums are planted on palm trees. They love it there!

Thanks for the quick responses! How can you tell if you have the mealy bugs? Also, I have some roots growing out of the surface of the pot that are drying out. Is this normal?

mealy bugs are crusty white masses usually on the underside of leaves and in the crown. but they can also live down in the media

I used to worry about roots growing out of the pot but I've read on this forum that orchids are perfectly happy growing that way. What counts are that the roots are healthy. Mealy bugs also LOVE living on blossoms when your orchid is in bloom so check in between the petals and even on the stems. You'll learn to recognize them: they're oval and about the size of a pencil point. Touch them with a Q-tip saturated in alcohol and drop them into a small dish of alcohol. Study them. Nasty things.

Hi, I also grow mostly phals. and have had some problems with fungus and bacteria and most of the time I have been able to control it with a spaying or two. That being said some times it can cause you problems, when I encounter such problems I use PHYTON 27 first as a soak and then as a spray, sometimes the infected area is cutout. Your spot can be as harmless as sun burn, however it also looks like a bacteria that I have gotten. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't spread. GOOD LUCK HANK.......