Question
orchid
I bought this orchid (i think dendrobium) about 6-7 months
ago, the flowers fell off soon after as I had it in a spot
with too much light. It has gone through its dormancy
period and is now sprouting new growth (both leaves and 2
stems). The leaves have a clear residue which I recognize
from other orchids I own, however, there is also a sticky
white substance growing on the stems with growth that looks
like seeds. At first I just thought it was just seeds and
didn't think more of it, now the white sticky substance has
grown (as have the seeds) and is starting to make me worry
that it is a cocoon of some sort? I took some pictures
(unfortunately not very clear), if you know what this is,
your thoughts would be appreciated!
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwi
tchBoard.jsp?
token=269882682903%3A1474963416&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc
=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee
I have 10 or so orchids, none that I believe to have any
bugs, but I have never seen this before (this is also the
only orchid of its kind that I own)
AnswerConstance, the plant you have pictured is an oncidium. The flowers are generally yellow and brown. I cannot ascertain the white substance in your photo because of the low magnification. If it is white and cottony, it is a mealy bug. If it has a kind of shell, it is probably a scale insect. Both of these are common to orchids and hide in the leaf folds and sheaths. They were probably there (hiding) when you got the plant. They multiply very rapidly and are both sucking insects which accounts for sap leaking out of the plant tissues. The first step is to be sure you isolate this plant from all other plants as both types of insects spread from plant to plant.
If the "seedlike growths" are either one of these insects, you will have along term battle on your hands. The second step (after isolating the plant) is to take some q-tips and soak them in rubbing alcohol (ie 70% isopropyl alcohol) and see if these "seeds" come off on the cotton. If so, remove all you can find in this way. Be sure you check the flower spikes, buds sheaths and top and bottom of the leaves as well as deep in the leaf sheaths. You can fight them this way indefinitely but you will never get rid of them. Eventually, you will need to drench the plant in a systemc insecticide after it finishes flowering and repot it it in a new pot and fresh orchid potting mix and be sure the old potting mix and pot are wrapped and discarded.
There is a less likely, more sanguine explanation for the "seedlike" objects. There is a fungus that produces spherical spores that occassional can be ffound on plants. These are harmless. If you can send a closeup picture of the "seeds" I might be more certain as to what they are.
