White Fuzz in the Orchid Bark

Sometimes, there’s a lot more growing inside the potting medium than we would like to admit. Bacteria and fungi are more common than we realize. Yet inside the potting medium, white fuzz is never a good sign. A white, fuzzy cotton-like growth starts slow, usually in new medium right after an orchid repot. This powdery, spiderweb growth appears out of the blue. It looks like white cotton, but can also have projections like a web. This white fuzz in the orchid pot, whatever it is, needs to go. The white fuzz that appears to be cotton inside the orchid potting medium can be either orchid mold, powdery mildew, or mealybugs. In time, these three components will prevent the growth of a healthy orchid and need to be treated immediately.