Question
I have about four different kinds of orchids and I was repotting one the other days and noticed there were little tiny white bugs crawling in the bark of the one orchid and then looked at the other ones and found that they were on there too. Is there anyway to get rid of these little pests so they won't come back, I think they are spider mites but i'm not sure. Thanks, Jill

Answer
Hello Jill,

From your description of the bugs on your orchids, I believe they may either be mealybugs or scale.  Did you check the underside of the leaves?  That is their favorite place to hide.  You are right in wanting to get rid of them as both are capable of slowly sucking the life out of your orchids.  

You can quickly get rid of the visible ones by wetting a soft paper or cloth towel with isopropyl alcohol and wiping the leaves.  Hold the leaf by folding the wetted towel then sliding from the base to tip of the leaf.  It may take several tries to get them all.  But, I have to warn you that this will only remove those that are visible and they will soon be replaced by others still lurking within the potting mix to come out.  To make a more permanent removal, go to your local garden center and ask for a systemic insecticide recommended for orchids.  You will have to apply it a minimum of three times over three weeks to ensure you get the adults along with any eggs that hatch over the next few weeks.  Be sure to follow directions on application and no harm will come to your orchids.  

To ensure they do not come back in the future, it would be a good idea to use the insecticide in early spring and again in mid fall.  

Hope this helps get rid of them.  

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.