Question
HI:  MY CYMBIDIUM FLOWERS HAVE SOME KIND OF SHEEN ON THEM.  THE EDGES OF THE BLOOMS ARE BEING EATEN OR AT LEAST LOOK THAT WAY.  THE FLOWER STEMS HAVE DROPS OF CLEAR GOO ON THEM.  THE FLOWERS ARE DYING QUICKLY.  COULD THIS BE SOME TYPE OF PEST?  I SEE SOME LITTLE WHITE DEPOSITS BUT NOT MANY OF THEM.  PLEASE HELP, MY FLOWERS ARE SO BEAUTIFUL.  THANKS, rs..

Answer
Hi Rupert,

I can't be certain but it may be that you have some slugs or snails nibbling on the blooms.  Try spreading some slug bait around the top of the pot, hopefully it will be their last meal.  Those clear drops of goo is probably excess sugars being secreted by the cymbidium, nothing to worry about as most happily growing orchids will do that.  

White deposits?  Are they on the leaves?  If so, it might be either mealybugs or scale and you don't want them sucking the life out of your cymbidium.  The best way to get rid of them is to get a systemic insecticide and use it according to directions, it will require a minimum of three applications over three weeks.  

I hope this helped.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.