...and I think I even see a thrip!

Wow, I never see the dag-nabbed thrips until they're stuck to my sticky traps. (and after they dine on my flowers) Love the Kuwale Gem, just the right amount of floof to be pretty but not over the top on that one.

I sure hope my third try on digbyana comes to flowering. It's a nice healthy plant with two new growths looking promising so . . I will 'make do' in the meantime with the odd flower from it's child, David Sander. To my delight, another bud opening today, after two nice flowers a month ago or so.

The David Sander is always nice to see in bloom. Mine just blooms once a year if I am lucky and that is it!

This Aliceara Mem. Khun Krairit 'Stargazer' is a repeat bloomer. I didn't notice it spiking when I placed it into its spot in the greenhouse and so the spike grew out a bit crooked.

Now I like this Pelatantheria insectifera, but I have never seen any Orchid to be such a Mealie magnet as this one. It is driving me nuts!! I am hitting it just about daily with Neem oil and I think I finally "won"! ( It loves Horticultural soap for breakfast and thrives on it)

Bc Hoku Gem 'Sunspots' is blooming whenever it feels like it, and the blooms change color as they age. I would really call this one a good beginner Orchid!



And Guarthroleya Judy Congdon starts up

Well with insectifera as a name, it is bound to attract something! but it is a real charmer. Hoku Gem is a rewarding little plant. There was a large one on the Naples raffle table on Thursday evening.
And what rich color you have with that Judy Congdon! Fantastic.

So the Pelatantheria insectifera tries hard to live up to its name 👍 sheeeesh! It does that every year, every single Mealie in Fair Lawn got the memo to converge on this plant!

Look at it this way, Ursula...better to spray one plant daily than a dozen plants/trees weekly. Between citrus trees, succulents, and some perennials I am over run with mealies.

Carol, good point!

That little guy surely does have lots of nooks and crannies for the mealies to hide in, doesn't it? Very pretty though. Love the Aliceara andthe colors on the Hoku Gem 'Sunspots' are beautiful.

I'll take a proper picture of my new David Sander bloom tomorrow. When I saw it opening, the camera just leapt to hand.

Ursula, I am sure you know this but for newbies with mealie magnets who might be reading this, it is equally important to dip the container, which in your case is the slat basket, into a bucket of the neem oil, soap solution or whatever insecticide is used on a regular basis. Spraying does not really get into all the corners well, it requires a full on approach. They also feed on roots so dipping also helps with whatever newly hatched eggs are hiding down in the coarse orchid medium. Lots of nooks and crannies there.

I love that the 'Sun Spots' has many different shades of flowers. Wish I could paint, that one would make a pretty watercolor with all the soft yellows, apricots and oranges.

Pelatantheria insectifera has the most interesting flowers. I love the 'crown' of petals above the pink lip.

Alice, that's a good point about dunking the whole thing into a bucket. That might get all the clever ones that have been hiding!

Elaine, I am still looking for David Sander..Those flowers are just HUGE and so different looking.

Thanks!
Alice, good tip! So far I have seen these darned Mealies only in those tiny spike/buds/blooms, but they have to have sailed in from somewhere close. A bucket with Bronner's soap coming up at the next sighting!
This is the first year I haven't treated the Orchids two weeks prior to coming inside with Bayer's /Imidacloprid. I think I am regretting it already!

Please Ursula next year try BigBill's preventative "little bad beasties" program!! It might help.
I use Neem oil, dish soap in a gallon and a half pump sprayer once a month as a preventative. I soak the plants early in the morning, undersides and top sides. The nozzle adjusts to a fine mist. You could do it May 1st through October 1st outdoors and maybe knock these little crumb buns back before they come inside. Then you can spot treat all winter.
I do Neem oil once a month year round and I must say, 98% of these little buggers are gone. Mealies, thripsters, hipsters, gnats, bats, homeless people are not seen in my Orchids! No scale either.
Please try it! It's like chicken soup, it can't hurt.

Made you laugh!!! Right???

I AM smiling! Funny!

I do need to follow a better routine and Bill, your method sounds fine to me!
I am always careful what I use inside, since the greenhouse is part of the house and the heated air circulates through the whole house. So I am always on the lookout for grinning Mealies in lawnchairs with umbrella drinks and those dreaded white dots on any leaves! I think they are particular smug this year, but they are out of luck!!

In my last home I had mealies on everything and I was shocked to find out they feasted on roots as well as stems. It is hard to spray what you can't see so that is when I started dipping.

Yes, I hear you !
Root mealies and Stapeliads are a particular good combo! One has to watch them like a hawk!

Mealy bugs attacking roots? I do not think I have either heard of that or seen that before.

Blooming this afternoon.


Ctt. Final Blue 'Royal Purple'

Final Blue huh? Very pretty flower Lindsey.
Form and petals are nice for a coerulea. They can be stinkers when it comes to form and substance but you have a real nice flower there. But I feel it's best feature is the lip! Very pretty with open side lobes and some intense amethyst/blue color.
In a word, Gorgeous.

Pretty as a picture!