Question
Orchis leaf
Hi,
I was given an orchid as a gift last year, I don't know what it is but I think its a moth orchid and its indoors. Since the flowers died it has continued to look healthy and I've had new leaf growth but no more flowers. In the last couple of weeks something has been eating the leaves and on some leaves there are lacy areas left. Together with this there is a substance being left behind by whatever it is, the substance looks like the digested leaf and is left in either tiny, tiny round dots or little clumps! - now some of the leaves are turning yellow. I can't see anything on the plant at all in terms of bugs - any ideas?
Many thanks in advance.
AnswerHi Carole,
Thanks for the photo, it helped eliminate some possibilities I might have suggested.
It does appear to be damage caused by some insect, possibly spider mites or thrips. With either, treatment is the same. Go to your local garden center and ask them for a systemic insecticide that is recommended for orchids. Apply it according to the instructions. It will probably require three applications over a 3 week period to make sure you got all of them.
I hope this helped.
Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.
