What's Wrong With My Orchids

SYMPTOMS.	POSSIBLE CAUSE
Irregular markings on leaves, discolored or uneven patches on flowers	possible viral infection
Uneven pieces removed from leaf border	weevils
Un-natural silvery underside to leaves	spider mite
Silvery trails on plants and benches	slugs or snails
Holes in leaves or flower stems or flowers	slugs or snails
Dark mildew on leaves, hard limpet creatures underside of leaves	common scale
Cotton wool type of stuff ( brownish creature inside of mass)	mealybug
Flat scales on underside of leaves and or tiny white fluffy masses	boisduval scale
Depressed dark spots possibly with lighter ring round them	fungal infection
Limp flaccid leaves on Phaleanopsis etc.	root problems
Dark brown or whitened patches on leaf	sunburn
Yellow or very light green leaves but plant flowers	too much light
Dark green leaves but plant does not flower	too little light
Flower buds develop then turn yellow and drop off	shock
Leaf tips turn brown	over feeding
Honey dew on leaves	greenfly
plant falls out of pot	earthquake

PROBLEM	TREATMENT
Viral infections	there is no known cure, burn the plant
Weevils	Bifenthrin
Spider mites (see below)	Bifenthrin, Pirimiphos methyl,, Malathion
Slugs and snails	Metaldehyde, Methiocarb, Aluminiumsulphate
Common scale	Dimethoate, Malathion, Insecticidal soap
Boisduval scale	Sulphur and fatty acid mixture
Mealybug	Malathion, Insecticidal soap, Sulphur/fatty acids
Fungal infections	Sulphur, Cinnemon powder
Root problems	Remove dead roots, and repot if in time, usually due to overwatering
Sunburn	re-site orchid giving correct amount of shading
Shock	identify cause, (could be severe temperature light or humidity change) and correct
Overfeeding	thoroughly flush pot through with clean water, repot if necessary
Greenfly	Sulphur/fatty acids, insectecial soap, Dimethoate, Malathion