Diseases and pests of Phalaenopsis orchids

Orchid

When caring for a Phalaenopsis orchid at home, mistakes are often made that lead to diseases and pests. The plant requires constant care. To ensure long-lasting blooms, all care must be performed in a timely manner.

The Phalaenopsis orchid is a favorite among gardeners, but even home care can't protect it from diseases and pests. To avoid common mistakes, it's important to follow proper flower care guidelines. Prompt pest and disease control and proper treatment will help maintain the orchid's attractiveness.

Orchid pests

Orchids are a common sight on many gardeners' windowsills. They delight with their lush blooms and attract everyone's attention. However, sometimes the flowers lose their appeal. There can be many reasons for this, one of the most common being pest infestations.

There are quite a few pests that attack orchids. To protect your plant, it's important to begin pest control early. First, it's important to familiarize yourself with all the pests.

Aphid

A small insect, shaped like a teardrop. It can be a variety of colors: yellow, green, black. It's not the pests themselves that are dangerous to the plant, but the liquid they secrete. Aphids form a sticky layer, which blocks the plant's ability to breathe.

Methods of control:

treatment of plants with a soap solution;
use of Fitoverm.

Whitefly

The larvae are dangerous. They feed on plant sap. After damage, the orchid turns yellow and loses its shape. The insects are easy to recognize. They are white and resemble midges.

Methods of control:

treating leaves with a soap solution;
spraying with Actellic.

Please note that orchid leaves need to be washed with water once a week.

To prevent this, carefully inspect your plants. If necessary, replace the substrate.

Thrips

These are small pests of Phalaenopsis orchids, no larger than 2.5 mm. They resemble rods with dark wings. Thrips move quickly. As soon as they enter a pot, they immediately begin attacking.

The pest can be detected at night. It's at night that they emerge from the ground. The larvae pose a threat; they feed on green matter. After an infestation, spots appear on the leaves. Over time, the leaves fall off. The pests then move on to flowers and roots.

Methods of control:

wipe the leaves, remove damaged plates;
Treat plants with preparations such as Aktara, Actellic, or Fitoverm. You will need 3
spraying, with an interval of 10 days between procedures.

Scale insects

The insects are found on the leaves. They are small, only a few millimeters in size. The parasite feeds on plant sap. As a result, the flowers die.

Methods of control:

Manually collecting parasites. Young parasites are easy to remove, but adults require some effort. A toothbrush is best;

treating flowers with Fitoverm;
It is imperative to replace the substrate and pot.

ImportantAvoid treating the plant with alcohol or flammable liquids. This can harm the flower.

Ticks

Phalaenopsis orchids can be susceptible to several types of pests. Mites are very small and can be difficult to identify. Adults lay eggs. Root pests suck the sap from the plant. If the insects are not identified promptly, the roots will become hollow threads. Fungal diseases can develop in affected areas.

Spider mites are also common. They are yellow or red in color and feed on plant sap. After infestation, a white coating forms on the lower leaves, the blades turn brown, and eventually fall off.

Orchid mites are also dangerous. A coating appears on the leaves, followed by a white web. Yellow spots form on the leaf blades, weakening the plant. As a result of the mite attack, buds fail to appear.

Methods of control:

treatment with Fitoverm;
Ticks prefer dry surfaces. To create unfavorable conditions for them, you can
Place a tray of water with the plant;
Damaged areas of the root system must be removed.

Mealybug

This insect prefers to feed on orchids. The mealybug is small in size, but despite this, it is very dangerous. The pest is found in the roots, under leaf blades, and on fallen leaves. The appearance of a powdery dust indicates a mealybug attack.

Methods of control:

pay attention to the top layer of the substrate, remove the leaves;
carry out treatment with Fitoverm;
Monitor the plants daily. If there are insect infestations, treat the affected areas with water.

Please note that if no new individuals appear within a month, the plant can be considered healthy.

Orchid diseases

In addition to pests, phalaenopsis can be affected by various diseases. The list is extensive, and any one of them can lead to plant death. To protect your flowers, it's important to learn in advance which diseases pose the greatest threat.

Powdery mildew

A common infection. The first sign of damage is the formation of a white coating on the leaves. The disease is very dangerous and can kill the plant. High temperatures are considered the main cause of powdery mildew.

Methods of control:

For prevention, treatment is carried out with Fitosporin;
The drug Skor is used to treat the disease.

Spotting

At first, the leaves turn yellow, then darken and crack. Fluid collects in the resulting ulcers. To get rid of the spotting, remove the affected areas and treat the cut with charcoal.

In case of widespread infestation, the plant should be treated with special preparations. If the disease shows no signs of recovery within 10 days, the orchid has recovered.

The disease appears due to excessive soil moisture, bright lighting, and improper application of fertilizers.

Brown rot

Light brown spots appear on the leaf blades. Over time, they darken and merge into one large spot. If signs of the disease are noticed early, the damaged areas should be cut off. If this cannot be done, the plant is dead.

To prevent disease, phalaenopsis orchids should be sprayed with a copper sulfate solution. This procedure should be performed monthly.

Root rot

The disease damages the roots, causing the leaves to turn brown. The main causes of the disease are high humidity and high temperatures.

To protect the plants, the roots should be treated with Topsin. It's important to pay close attention to plant care. It's best to replace the substrate.

Gray rot

The disease is fairly easy to identify. Dark spots with a gray coating form on the leaves. After some time, the rot spreads to the soil and flowers, eventually affecting the entire plant.

The main reason for the disease is improper care.

To combat rot, it is necessary to get rid of diseased areas and treat the plants with fungicides.

Important, don't place orchids near other plants. Diseases can spread from one bush to another.

Anthracnose

Another common disease that affects leaf blades. Small spots initially appear, but over time they begin to blacken and grow. Eventually, a plaque forms on the spots.

To prevent the disease from spreading, the room should be well ventilated. If the first signs of infection appear, the affected areas should be removed and the cut treated with iodine.

In advanced cases, plants need to be treated with preparations such as Skor, Mikosan, and Ritomil.

Rust

Many gardeners are interested in this disease of Phalaenopsis orchids and how to treat them. Rust is rare and affects leaf blades. In most cases, weakened plants are affected. The disease manifests as spots on the leaves, which eventually turn reddish.

Affected areas should be removed, and the cut area treated with an alcohol solution. Mikosan, Skor, and Ritomil can be used to treat flowers.

Fusarium rot

The first sign of rot is yellowing of the leaves, with spots appearing on them. The leaf blades curl and turn pink.

The disease can be cured with a Fundazole solution. The plants should be thoroughly treated with the solution.

Sooty mushrooms

The disease is carried by pests, which secrete a fluid in which fungi develop.

The plaque appears dark in color. As a result of the attack, the orchid becomes weak and soon dies.

You can get rid of the disease with the help of such drugs as Topisin-M, Mikosan, Skor.

What are the flowering problems associated with?

If your orchid doesn't bloom well, you need to pay attention to its care.

The main mistake gardeners make is overwatering the soil. Watering should be kept to a minimum.

Root rot will also prevent the plant from blooming. After purchasing a new plant, carefully examine the root system. If there are any rotten areas, cut them off and treat the cut area with brilliant green. Then, repot the plant in a different container.

Prevention and care in indoor conditions

To prevent phalaenopsis from being damaged by diseases and pests, it is necessary to create favorable conditions for growing the flower.

PlaceFirst, choose a location for the pot. It's best to place the plant behind a curtain to protect it from direct sunlight. Rotate the container weekly. Otherwise, the plant will grow in one direction.

HumidityThe room must be regularly ventilated. Humidity should be around 40%. If this level is not met, the flowers will fall off. However, caution is required. Excessive humidity can lead to root rot and leaf spots.

Top dressingThis is done along with watering. Add Kemira-Lux to the water. Fertilizing can be done weekly.

Watering. Water your orchid only after the soil has completely dried. If there's no moisture on the sides of the pot, you can do this. Avoid watering the leaves. Instead, place the pot in a container filled with water; the soil will absorb moisture through the holes.

A shower should be given once a month. Afterward, the plants should be dried thoroughly.
Diseases and pests can destroy Phalaenopsis orchids. To protect them, proper care is essential. Even a novice can master this technique. With a little patience and time, the plant will continually delight you with its lush blooms.