Mealybug on an Orchid: How to Fight It with Home Remedies

Mealybugs are insects that can infest orchids, and not everyone knows how to get rid of them. Recognizing these pests is easy. Treating your plants promptly can help protect them from the insect.

Many gardeners are interested in how to get rid of mealybugs on orchids. This exotic plant is considered the queen of indoor plants. Even though orchids are grown indoors, they cannot be completely protected from pests. To save the plants, you can use traditional methods or chemicals.

Reasons for the appearance of the pest

If you properly care for your orchid, mealybugs won't appear. These insects only attack weakened plants. These pests can appear in the following situations:

1. Incorrect watering. Over- or under-watered soil makes orchids vulnerable. This creates a breeding ground for diseases and pests, which can attack immediately.
2. If hygiene is poor, flowers need to have their leaves regularly wiped. This can be done with a sponge or by spraying.
3. Failure to quarantine new flowers. Insects don't appear spontaneously. They most often enter the home with newly purchased plants. To protect houseplants, new orchids should be isolated from other plants for a month.

Sign of defeat

It's impossible to confuse a mealybug with any other insect. The main sign of plant infestation is the appearance of a white, waxy coating. It resembles a piece of cotton wool.

Additionally, sticky secretions appear on the leaves. The blades become spotted. If immediate action is not taken to eradicate the pest, the plant will soon die.

Control measures

Getting rid of mealybugs on orchids is very difficult. However, many gardeners know how to protect their plants. There are many options. You can use folk remedies or treat them with chemicals. If insects are found on your plants, they should be isolated immediately.

Folk remedies for insect control are extremely popular. They are, above all, accessible and cost-effective.

The most popular methods are:

• Mechanical cleaning of plants

Affected buds should be removed. If insects have damaged leaf blades, wipe them with a cotton pad. If pests are found near the roots, the orchid should be repotted in different soil.

After the procedure, it's necessary to treat the plant with a soap solution. To prepare it, take some laundry soap, grind it, and add water. Wipe the leaves and stems with the resulting foam. Finally, treat the plant with a fungicide. Copper sulfate has proven effective for this purpose.

• Horsetail tincture

Many gardeners are interested in how to get rid of mealybugs on orchids this way. Simply prepare a solution and water the plants with it. You can also mist your orchids daily.

The tincture can be purchased at a pharmacy. Before use, it should be diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.

• Ethyl alcohol and water

To prepare the mixture, combine one liter of boiled water, 15 ml of alcohol, and 20 grams of liquid soap. This solution is used to treat the flowers.

• Olive oil and water

To prepare the mixture, combine one liter of water and 60 grams of oil. Spray the plants with this mixture.

• Garlic tincture

First, boil the water. Then add a head of crushed garlic. Cook for 1 minute. Then let the mixture steep for 5 hours.

• Calendula tincture

An affordable remedy that will help get rid of mealybugs. Soak a cotton pad in the tincture and apply it to the affected areas.

In addition to traditional methods, chemical pesticides can help combat insects. They can completely eliminate pests and protect plants.

The most effective means are the following:

1. Actellic is used in cases of massive plant infestation.
2. Fitoverm is used to get rid of mealybugs on orchids and is up to 98% effective.
3. Vertimek is an effective remedy and is less toxic than other drugs.

Types of mealybugs that are dangerous to orchids

There are seven species of mealybugs. However, only two of them affect orchids:

1. Citrus. The female is pink and secretes a fluid. Lifespan is 3 months. After 2 weeks, she is capable of laying eggs. The male can fly and lives for 4 days.
2. Bristly. Females are red with a white coating. Males are gray with transparent wings. These pests can secrete a liquid that protects them from environmental influences.

Preventive measures

To protect plants from mealybugs, it is necessary to carefully inspect flowers when purchasing them.

Dry leaves may contain pests, so they should be removed immediately.

Mealybugs don't like fresh air. High humidity around the plants is essential. Regularly wipe the leaves and give them a warm shower. Afterward, blot away any excess moisture with a napkin. This is done to prevent rot.

Reviews

Sofia, 35 years old:

"My love for orchids developed quite recently. A friend gave me a flower, and for a long time I couldn't stop admiring its beauty. One day, I noticed a white coating on the orchids. I didn't think anything of it at first; I just removed it and that was it. A few days later, I noticed the coating was also present on other leaves.

I read online that these are the main signs of mealybugs. I treated the plants with alcohol. However, in my case, it didn't help. I was only able to get rid of the pests with chemicals."

Elizabeth, 27 years old:

"All my orchids were infested with mealybugs. I know this problem firsthand. I used a soap solution. Eventually, I realized all my efforts were in vain. So I bought Actellic. After a few treatments, I noticed amazing results: the pests were significantly fewer. I repeated the treatment two weeks later. I was able to get rid of the insects completely."

Orchids are a true window-sill decoration. However, sometimes the flowers are attacked by pests. Protecting plants from mealybugs is very difficult. To ensure your orchids bloom profusely, it's important to learn how to get rid of these pests in advance. This will help maintain their attractive appearance.