Flowers Growing – Everything about flowers, plant and gardening.Your personal florist | All about flowers, gardening, plants, arrangements, flower shops

The presence of pests or disease on orchids is an indication that something is wrong with the orchid’s environment.
Perhaps the plants are placed too close together, preventing adequate air movement, or dead leaves and other plant debris are littering the
area. Plant stress may also lead to pests and diseases. The plants may be stressed from improper watering, overfertilization, low humidity,
incorrect potting mix, lack of light or extreme temperature changes.

These factors should be considered when a pest or disease is identified and corrected to prevent further problems. For assistance in
identifying and controlling pests and diseases, contact your county Extension agent.

Insects

Insects do not present significant problems in growing orchids. The most common insect pests are mealybugs, scale, aphids, thrips, spider mites, fungus gnats, slugs and snails. If an infestation is spotted early, the insects can be hand picked off the plant. A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol can also be effective. Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps are effective against larger infestations. More potent chemical insecticides should be used as a last resort, as they are often very expensive, they may kill beneficial insects and they can damage many other orchid species. Be sure to follow label instructions when using any pesticide.

Fungal and Bacterial Disease

Fungal diseases arenusually easy to control. Phytophthora root rot and Pythium root rot are among the most common fungal diseases of orchids. Botrytis blight is a common fungal disease that causes discoloration of the flowers. Fungal diseases can be identified by brown-to-black, ringed spots on foliage. The best way to control disease is by prevention. Keep the growing area free of plant debris, avoid
wetting the foliage and eliminate standing water. When a disease is present, remove and destroy the effective foliage.

Fungicides may be used as a last resort, but as with any other potent chemical pesticide, be sure to follow label instructions. Soft, black, water-soaked spots on the foliage indicate bacterial diseases. Bacterial diseases cannot be cured with fungicides; therefore, plants with bacterial diseases should be destroyed.

Tags: growing orchids, orchid pictures, about orchids, orchid culture