If you accidentally got here looking for hair lice, no worries! I've covered that years ago as well. Click the link to get to the post and safely and naturally get rid of that darn lice.
Just look at my gorgeous baby. Allow me to introduce, Henrietta. (My grandmother's name.) I don't even know how old she is. 18 years old? She's an absolute dream. A beautiful cloud of plant heavenliness adorning my enormous picture window for well over a decade. Isn't she a jaw dropper? She blooms year round, non stop. She didn't always bloom year round, but she has been for a few years, lately.
I have no idea what I'm doing! I just love her so much. She was a gift from our neighbor and found herself right at home quickly. I was smitten! She must really feel the love I have for her. I was horrified to find this dusty looking, sticky stuff all over her, one afternoon while cleaning out the window sill. My poor baby!
She got infected by a recent plant purchase. A really, really crappy plant purchase, I might add. I often buy discounted, half dead plants because I feel sorry for them and this happens. Ugh! (Reminds me of a recent vote I made. Thought I was doing the right thing, only to find out I voted for yet another parasite.)Needless to say, those plants are gone. In my research, it says I should trash an orchid that's repeatedly infected?! As if?! There's no way in H...E...double hockey sticks I'm throwing out grandma! Banish the thought!
I have no idea what I'm doing! I just love her so much. She was a gift from our neighbor and found herself right at home quickly. I was smitten! She must really feel the love I have for her. I was horrified to find this dusty looking, sticky stuff all over her, one afternoon while cleaning out the window sill. My poor baby!
She got infected by a recent plant purchase. A really, really crappy plant purchase, I might add. I often buy discounted, half dead plants because I feel sorry for them and this happens. Ugh! (Reminds me of a recent vote I made. Thought I was doing the right thing, only to find out I voted for yet another parasite.)Needless to say, those plants are gone. In my research, it says I should trash an orchid that's repeatedly infected?! As if?! There's no way in H...E...double hockey sticks I'm throwing out grandma! Banish the thought!
So, for months, I dug into treating Henrietta with a watered down dish soap spray, a toothpick and cotton swab. Can you see that little monster? Heebie jeebies!
It took some serious searching and a lot of reading to find a good article on how to combat this terrible pest. Here's a really good one and I plan on trying the alcohol, next if this is still a problem.
Just look at all of this filth! I literally worked like an hour to remove every trace that I can see. Little did I know about the roots, until just a few minutes ago. Ugh! She's already in the one of the biggest pots I own. After reading, I should take her out and clean the roots really well, put all new soil/orchid mix and a new pot. She's just huge. Like a bush! So, it will not be an easy task.
This infection was really, really bad. You have to literally, check every centimeter of your plant and by all means, get that plant out of reach of other plants. Unless, you want them to die or become infected. Sure enough this got to all of my orchids. What a load of work! Each time I treated my plant, there were less and less traces of the lice.
See that concentration under the flower? I very gently scrape with a cotton swab or toothpick and then spray the crap out of it with my soapy mix.
They just love the nodes! You'll need a toothpick to get them the heck out of there. Zap'm with a hefty squeeze of your spray.
Just look at that! Even the tiniest of crevices!
In the seems of the leaves...
If you really love your plant, don't give up! First line of action is to get it away from other plants. We got this horrid infestation from a totally different kind of plant. It was not an orchid OR perhaps we got it when I orchid sat for my mother-in-law?! Oh! I just thought of that. Either way, remove it and treat it in whatever way you choose. Purchased insecticidal soaps, the rubbing alcohol or my way which is probably the least damaging for the plant.
Here's more evidence on another orchid. I read somewhere that a struggling plant often encourages pests. So try your best to have healthy plants.
This little guy was a lot easier to treat.
This one was not infected.
I found that misting my plants on occasion helps a great deal with those scale bugs. You know, the ones that look like a solid drop of honey? Aphids as well. I carefully scratch them off if I see them and spray a bit of the dish soap water over the plant. I've had no serious infestations since. 
Enjoy some pics of some of my other orchids.
This is just one branch from Henrietta.
Your FREE Mini Kit with Tag, Papers and Graphic Designs
I know! It's nothing like I used to design. This software problem is the issue. Also, there are like a ton of other things I'd rather be doing than designing. Like many other women out there, I change my mind like the wind. I get bored! I've dove into DIY everything from home repairs to cosmetics and it is consuming a lot of time. Maybe you read about my Scandinavian adventure? There is still so much to share. I also plan on blogging some of my experiences restoring this old, German house on a dime. I thought about calling the series, Paint, Duct Tape and Zip Ties because I'm totally fixing up this house with next to no budget or skills for that matter. Just a lot of practice and You Tube videos! Hehehe...
I hope you come back for another visit. This blog is kind of like an orchestra of all things helpful (the drums), making things pretty (the wind instruments), travel (the strings) and saving money (the conductor).
May your day be full of magic and laughter!
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