When growing orchids at home, it is worth remembering that proper care is a condition for the he alth of every orchid.Symptoms of orchid diseases , such as leaf stains, lack of flowering or root rot, can occur as a result of cultivation errors or due to the action of pathogens or pests. Then the most important thing is early and correct detection and application of appropriate treatment. Here are themost common orchid diseasesand methods to combat them.
Orchid diseases can arise from the wrong substrate
Mistakes in growing orchids
Fertilization
Proper dosing of the fertilizer is extremely important. Too much fertilization of orchids causes thickening of the roots, which become stiff and brittle, while the leaves turn dark green and become hard and brittle. In this case, further fertilization should be discontinued and continued to water preferably with rainwater until the symptoms disappear. In the case of an overdose of fertilizer, the substrate decomposition is also frequent, which can lead torotting of the orchid roots , in this case the plant should be repotted immediately and the underside of the leaves should be sprinkled, avoiding excessive watering at the same time.
Fertilizer deficiency causes orchids to wither away, bloom less often and get sick more often.
Temperature and light
Wrong temperature often causesorchid diseases- fungal or bacterial. It is worth remembering about the temperature when transporting the plant, e.g.by car. It may freeze in winter and overheat in summer. As a result of the thermal shock, the entire life process of the orchid is disrupted and the plant cannot be saved.
In winter, when the orchid stands on the windowsill, it may freeze as a result of leaky windows, while in summer, too intense sunlight may lead to burns. The symptom of burns is white spots on the leaves of the orchid with a black border.
Watering orchids
Watering too little may not show any visible symptoms at first, as most of the orchids are drought-resistant. Therefore, it is very difficult to say whenorchids witherThe orchid withers only when it really suffers from drought for a long period of time. However, when we water too much, the orchid rots, fungi and bacteria begin to attack it. Proper watering of orchids is a real art, so it is worth knowing carefully how to water an orchid.
Note!When watering, do not leave water in the axils of the leaves as it leads to rotting of the entire plant.
Orchid substrate
Orchids, above all, need a porous and nutrient-poor substrate, which means that a lot of air enters the roots. Too dense substrate or too much nutrients (over-fertilization) lead to the fact thatthe orchid rots .
Falling flowers
Especially in winter, orchids are exposed to premature fall of flowers or undeveloped buds. All this is due to the lack of sufficient sun, as well as the occurrence of drafts and cold air - then quicklythe orchid loses its flowersThe causes of flower fall may also be volatile substances secreted by ripening fruits or vegetables, and even glues or paints, a large amount of carbon dioxide in the room caused by lighted candles, or cigarette smoke.
Orchid diseases
Fungal diseases of orchids
"Fungi are one of the more common pathogens that attack our orchids.They infect both the roots, shoots and leaves of orchids. Phalaenopsis and Vanda orchids often have a fungal disease that attacks the heart of the orchid, i.e. the middle leaves. In this case, it is necessary to immediately remove the affected leaves and dry the resulting wound. Mushrooms that attack the leaves themselves do not pose too much of a threat to the entire plant. The infected leaf is best removed.
"Orchid Fusariosis
As a result of infection with fusariosis, the lower, oldest leaves begin to turn yellow, turn brown and finally die. At the base of the orchid, black rot is visible, on the surface of which orange spores are visible. The infected orchid can be destroyed, it is best to burn it, spray adjacent plants 2-4 times with Biosept 33 SL or Topsin M 500 SC
Rot rot orchids
In the event of gangrene, the orchid withers, leaves lose their color, turn brighter and wrinkle. Dead leaves can be easily separated from the main part. Then the plant should be sprayed with Biosept 33 SL, alternately with Gwarant 500 SC.
Gray orchid mold
Disease caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. Gray mold can infect many other potted and garden plants as well. As a result of the infestation of an orchid with gray mold, light gray, watery spots appear on the flower petals during flowering, which grow rapidly. To prevent the development of this disease, ventilate the room and avoid wetting the plants when watering.Sick orchidsspray twice at intervals every 10 days, using Rovral Aquaflo 500 SC alternating with Biosept 33 SL.
Bacterial diseases of orchids
The main pathogens for orchids are Pseudomonas bacteria, which cause bacterial wet rot. Infected areas on the leaves become soft and slimy, and release an unpleasant odor when moved. There is only one solution: cut the leaves and sprinkle the cut areas with charcoal, and in the case of severe infection - remove the entire plants.The remaining specimens, together with the substrate, should be sprayed with Miedzian 50 WP.
Bacterial leaf spot
This disease occurs mainly on Phalaenopsis. There are slight bright spots on the leaves of the orchid, gradually increasing in size. On the underside of the spots there are gray-brown clusters of bacteria. In case of symptoms, remove infected leaves and spray Miedzian 50 WP several times at intervals of 10 days.
Orchid viral diseases
There are no effective virucides against viruses, so prevention is the best treatment. Viruses are spread by aphids and thrips, as well as dirty garden tools and dirty water. That is why it is very important to properly cultivate and keep clean with each care treatment.
Orchid pests
Wełnowce
These are the most commonorchid pests , they usually hide in the leaf axils from where they spread quickly.At the time of their occurrence, wiping the plant with a cotton swab with alcohol is a rather ineffective tactic, and certainly very laborious. It is best to spray the plant with a natural Agrocover Spray or Provado Plus AE. Both preparations are available in a convenient form of a sprayer, ready to use.
Shields
These pests locate on the underside of leaves. Usually, brown, small (female) shields are visible, under which the pest eggs are located. You can scrape the discs with your fingernail and remove the eggs. You can also lubricate the discs with oil, which kills pests as a result of cutting off the air. However, spraying with the Provado Plus AE preparation mentioned above will be more effective.
Spędziorki
These pests are arachnids that occur on the underside of leaves. They suck the sap from the leaf, which causes the infected areas to fill with air. In these places, the leaf tissue glows silver.Usually, when spider mites are noticed, the whole leaf or the whole plant is infected. The presence of spider mites is favored by dry air and high temperature. Therefore, you can counteract it by taking care of adequate humidity and by regularly sprinkling the plant. It is also worth spraying with Provado Plus AE.
Thrips
Like spider mites, thrips suck the cell sap from the underside of the leaves, filling them with air, creating a silvery effect on the leaves. Thrips are small, 1-2 mm, brown-black insects that like dry air. Therefore, it is very easy to counteract them by taking care of the humidity in the room and sprinkling the lower parts of the plants. In the cultivation of potted plants, such as orchids, Provado Plus AE will also be helpful here.
Aphids
These insects are not very common on orchids. It is worth remembering that aphids transmit viruses, so when you notice aphids on an orchid, you should rinse them under running water or use anti-aphid preparations.
Note!Before applying a plant protection product to our orchid, it is worth first spraying a part of the plant or only one plant (if we have several). Sometimes, because it happens that the active substances contained in a given preparation can harm the plant, then you need to use a different measure. In the cultivation of potted plants, the use of chemical pesticides should also be avoided. If we decide to spray, take the plants out and do it outside so as not to harm ourselves and other household members.
Katarzyna Matuszak
