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Tiny white dots on phalaenopsis orchid leaf #857989

Asked January 28, 2024, 10:51 AM EST

Hello, I am not sure if you field questions about house plants but I have one that I am just not sure about. One of my phalaenopsis orchids has tiny (less than 1 mm), very white dots on its newest leaf. When I touch the dots I can't feel them but if I rub them with a tooth pick they are raised and firm/rough feeling. They do not rub off. The dots have a rather crisp margin. The leaf that is affected is very thin, the base of the leaf is almost getting a translucent quality. Overall I have dealt with very few house plant pests/disease (despite having nearly 100 house plants currently). But I have had experience previously with scale and spider mites. I am going to feel really stupid if this is something like mealy bugs but I keep looking for photos online and can't quite find anything that looks the same. I have attached a couple photos. The photo looks like the bigger leaves have a ton of white as well but that is being brought out by my camera, I actually had to double check the other leaves to make sure I didn't miss them.... they are there but hardly visible in person and the layout is very consistent on all the other leaves so I think those are just normal leaf variations. If you feel cutting a leaf and looking under a microscope would help I could do that and send photos. I don't have a super fancy/high powered microscope but I am a veterinarian and have one at work if that would be helpful. Thank you so much for any help you can give!

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

Thank you for your question, Dr. Spencer.  Yes; we certainly do help with houseplant issues.  You have a lovely cat and what appear to be dahlias, but there are no Phalaenopsis orchids in the photo.  So, as a start, a clear photo of the affected leaf would be help, and, at least initially, we don't need a microscope.  The most common insect pests are listed here:  https://www.aos.org/orchids/orchid-pests-diseases.aspx
OSU lists several of the most prevalent pathogens, described in the links on this page:  https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-and-disease-descriptions?title=orchid
If you are unable to determine what you have, please send photos.  Good luck!
An Ask Extension Expert Replied January 29, 2024, 1:17 PM EST
Oh gosh so sorry about that.  Here is the orchid leaf.  I did cruise through those sites and couldn’t quite find a match to what I am seeing.  Thanks again for your help
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Casey Spencer



On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 10:17 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied January 29, 2024, 4:44 PM EST
Thank you!  I suspect that it is either a bacterial or fungal infection, especially with the brown tip on the newest left.  I suggest that you remove that leaf, and send it to the OSU Plant Clinic for a diagnosis, and recommendation for treatment.  https://bpp.oregonstate.edu/how-submit-plant-materials
Good luck!
An Ask Extension Expert Replied January 29, 2024, 6:04 PM EST
Hello, I shipped the plant leaf and it should arrive tomorrow.  I did snip off the tip of a normal leaf too incase a comparison is helpful.  You noted the darker tip on the new leaf may be significant.  This orchid is darker than my others, always has been, with all the tips being darker.  I attacked a couple photos of the other parts of the plant if helpful.  Tracking number is:

1ZC6K<personal data hidden>61

Thanks looking forward to figuring this out.



Casey Spencer

image
image




On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 3:04 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied January 31, 2024, 10:40 AM EST
Hello, I shipped the plant leaf and it should arrive tomorrow.  I did snip off the tip of a normal leaf too incase a comparison is helpful.  You noted the darker tip on the new leaf may be significant.  This orchid is darker than my others, always has been, with all the tips being darker.  I attacked a couple photos of the other parts of the plant if helpful.  Tracking number is:

1ZC6K<personal data hidden>61

Thanks looking forward to figuring this out.



Casey Spencer

image
image




On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 3:04 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied January 31, 2024, 10:40 AM EST
Thanks!  It looked as though the leaf tip was dried up in the prior photo, often an indication of disease.  Let me know what they say!
An Ask Extension Expert Replied January 31, 2024, 5:55 PM EST
Hello,
I sent in the leaf in question to OSU as recommended and based on the tracking it looks like it arrived February 1st.  I understand some testing may take a bit to get results but I'm curious if this is a normal time frame, or maybe there was something else I needed to do?  I did try to reach out to OSU but haven't heard back yet.  Thanks so much for your help

Casey Spencer

On Wed, Jan 31, 2024 at 2:55 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied February 09, 2024, 11:50 PM EST
Dr. Spencer:  like most diagnostic tests, the timeline for results depends upon procedures, staff and volume.   Neither you nor they control those factors.  I suggest that patience is the only action.
An Ask Extension Expert Replied February 09, 2024, 11:57 PM EST

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