Help needed with a Phalaenopsis Orchid: Experienced growers please!?

Question by Jess: Help needed with a Phalaenopsis Orchid: Experienced growers please!?
I have a phalaenopsis that i got as a gift about 6 months ago. its been a bit of a problem ever since i got it.it was bought at a store (similar to walmart) so i figured it would be in poor health, and so it has been. It was my first one, so my care was based off recomendations which didnt seem to work out well.

first, the orchid had scale. BAD. I followed some recommended steps (spot treating with rubbing alcohol, this weird oil spray, re-potting, cutting the spike down to about an inch long off of the plant) and these ended up damaging the plant pretty bad. the leaves are green, as they should be, but are completely drooped over the edges of the pot and are not firm. there marks on the leaves from the alcohol treatment.

today i was giving my plant its weekly evaluation/watering, it seemed to be recovering, the plant has a new leaf starting, and the youngest leaf seems to be growing much better. there seems to be decent roots, but a lot are more of a brown color…. and i noticed a rather large scale bug again! WTF?! it looks fairly young (ie: not hardened, still a visible trail). it is out of bloom.

what do i do?!
can i get rid of the scale?
will the spikes grow back?
will the leaves and roots recover?
is it a lost cause?

Best answer:

Answer by Susi C
A product such as Cygon 2E will kill your scale infestation. However, you must repeat it at least once within 10 to 14 days to get rid of the new crawlers.

You can either thoroughly spray the plant or cover the pot with plastic, turn upside down and dip the plant.

Spot treatment is not effective because it will not get the eggs.

Cut spikes will not grow back, but the plant should produce a new spike after current year’s growth has matured.

The color of the roots is not so much an issue as their condition. Roots that feel firm to the touch are viable.

If it were mine:
I would take it out of its pot and throw away the old medium. Rinse off the root system and cut off any soft and/or rotted parts into living tissue.

Rub off any visible scale with your thumb. Spray with miticide and let dry. Repot – spray again in a week or so.

See source for more information on growing phalaenopsis in the home.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!