The very word "orchid" is fraught with some kind of charm and mystery. Growing this amazing plant at home is a real pleasure, especially when the pet begins to delight you with its truly royal flowers of the most unthinkable colors. But all this is possible only with proper care. The plant is quite unpretentious, but at the same time has its own "character." Very often you can encounter all sorts of troubles, so it is so important to know the diseases of orchids and their treatment.
First of all, it is worth saying a few words about the proper care of these plants. After all, this is the main factor in the prevention of various diseases and the key to good flowering.
7 main mistakes in caring for orchids
- Excessive and frequent watering is one of the main reasons why an orchid dies. Strictly follow the recommendations regarding the water regime.
- Cold drafts indoors. Remember that they in no way replace ventilation and are not an equivalent concept.
- Too dry air in the apartment. Orchids are residents of tropical forests, where humidity is close to 100%.
- Direct sunlight in summer. From midday heat the plant must be shaded.
- Wet leaves. Spray and water the plants should be in the morning. If you systematically do this in the evening, then you are likely to provoke diseases of orchid leaves.
- A heat source is nearby, namely a heating battery. Most often, this leads to damage to the leaves.
- Too plentiful fertilizing with fertilizers. It is impossible, firstly, to bring them into the resting period, and secondly, in an arbitrary concentration, strictly follow the instructions on the package.
In order not to raise the question of how to save orchids, adhere to these basic tenets. Otherwise, you may have some difficulties.
Problems Related to Care Errors
The fact that something is wrong with the plant, first of all, we learn from the leaves. This is the most important indicator, or at least the most noticeable one for us.
The first signal that everything is not in order is a change in the color of the leaves. If they have turned yellow or turned red, then perhaps the reason is in too bright a sun. If the emerging new leaves become too dark, then most likely they do not have enough light. A sign of malnutrition may be a change in color intensity, when all the greens become evenly pale. These changes are not fatal. And if the question of how to save orchids is not a question, then helping the plant is simply necessary.
A more serious sign is the wilting of leaves or generally their falling. The first thing to do is to carefully examine the plant for pests. If its appearance is healthy enough, then the reason may lie in dehydration. Surprisingly, it is a fact: the same symptoms can indicate both an excess of moisture and its lack. When the substrate dries, the roots of the orchid lose their source of water and cannot, accordingly, supply the leaves with it. And with excess moisture, they simply rot and also can not cope with their function. As a result, you get faded or falling leaves.
Well, another most common situation is the appearance of black spots. They appear either on the entire surface of the sheet, or only at the tips. In the first case, the reason lies most likely in the excess of the sun, and the plant was simply burned, and in the second, overmoistening, drafts.
Bacterial diseases of orchids and their treatment
This is perhaps the most difficult category of diseases, because when they notice signs, as a rule, it is too late to do anything. Brown spotting of leaves is specific for orchids; phalaenopsis is especially prone to it. A leaf affected by this disease turns yellow at first, and then acquires a brown tint. The infected tissue becomes soft and becomes covered with ulcers from which the cell sap comes out. The question is how to save orchids with such a disease. First of all, the diseased plant must be isolated from the rest. Plots of leaves affected by brown spotting are carefully cut, while capturing healthy tissue. Slices are best sprinkled with chopped charcoal. This measure is effective at the initial stage. After all the sections have dried, the plant should be treated with special preparations (fungicides). For example, “Strobi”, “Vectra”, “Fitosporin”, etc. If the flower is damaged too much, including the bulb, then it will not work to help, you will have to throw it away.
How to save orchids from fungal diseases? The answer is the same - follow the rules of care. Most often, orchids are affected by gray and black rot. Both diseases are fungal in nature, which leads to the transience of their course and complexity in elimination issues.
Gray rot
Signs of its appearance are spots of brown or black with pink edges. Most often they occur on flowers (petals and sepals). The reason for the appearance is the combination of high humidity with low temperature, as well as inadequate ventilation. At the first signs of the disease, the affected flowers must be removed, and care errors eliminated. For prevention, it is worth treating with a fungicidal drug.
Black rot
This is a more serious disease. Most affected are phalaenopsis and cattleya. The first sign is the appearance of dark spots on the leaves, along the edges of which a bright strip forms. Further, black rot passes to the bulb and roots. The reason is all the same - low air temperature and high humidity, waterlogging of the substrate. In this case, it is important to know how to save the orchid. Rotten roots or only slightly damaged? In any case, the plant should be destroyed. It will not be possible to save him, but you can infect others with ease. If only the leaves are affected, then urgently cut the affected areas to healthy tissue. Further, the procedure is the same as with gray rot.
This category of diseases is quite common. And, as already mentioned, rot develops extremely quickly, affecting all parts of the plant. Very often the question arises of how to save an orchid without leaves. This can only be done if the growth point is not damaged, or if there are sleeping kidneys.
In addition to bacterial and fungal diseases, orchids are very often attacked by pests. Consider each option in more detail.
Aphid
These are small (from 1 to 4 mm) insects, which, depending on the species, may have a green, yellow or black color. They suck out juice from the plant, so buds, flowers, young leaves and sprouts are a favorite location. In places of their greatest congestion, a copper plaque forms, on which dark mold subsequently develops. At the initial stage, the plant should be washed with soapy water, and cut off the buds and flowers affected by insects. If the colonies are too large, then insecticides are used, for example, Fitoverm, Inta-Vir. Keep in mind that most of all they require re-processing after a certain period, so carefully read the instructions and follow safety measures.
Thrips
These are very small flying insects with a body that has a yellow or black color. Most often they can be seen with the naked eye. In addition, the signs of thrips are spots and stripes on the leaves and flowers of silver color. Buds affected by insects begin to deform. Prolonged drought contributes to their appearance and active reproduction. Therefore, it is so important to know what soil for the orchid is needed and how to maintain constant moisture in it.
Spider mite
A small insect that most often appears on orchids with soft leaves, such as cymbidium. Its active development and rapid reproduction is facilitated by dry indoor air and elevated temperatures. A characteristic sign is the appearance of first pale, and then darkening spots, sometimes a cobweb is noticeable. Control and prevention measures are the same. Once a week, treat the plant with an insecticidal preparation. Similarly, when a false flare appears.
Shields
This is a very insidious pest. Often, his abilities are underestimated, as a result, it is simply impossible to save the plant. The appearance of the pests resembles brown or gray plaques. They suck juice from the plant, so most of them can be found on leathery leaves. Female adult spends all her life in a motionless state, protects her wax shield. It is connected with this feature that it is difficult to get rid of them. The appearance of scale insects may be the answer to the question of why the orchid dries. Insects pull the juice from the leaves, as a result of which they begin to wither, then turn yellow and eventually fall off.
The main object of these pests are primarily weakened plants with impaired metabolism, “overfed” with nitrogen fertilizers. You can get rid of scale insects, but some effort will be required. Initially isolate the affected orchid from other plants. Then it should be washed with water or an ordinary soap solution - this will help get rid of young and mobile individuals. There are many popular ways, but is it worth the risk and run the disease even more? Therefore, we recommend that you immediately use insecticides. Handle the plant carefully; scale insects love to hide in the axils of leaves, especially orchids with sympodial branching.
Mealybug
These are very small insects, which seem to be covered with a fluff resembling cotton wool. They usually settle in the axils of the leaves or on their underside, on the pseudobulbs. When large colonies form, the plant stops growing. Faded leaves may also be a sign of their appearance. Very often, a mealybug can be brought home with the plant just bought. Therefore, it is so important for the first few weeks to hold a new orchid, and indeed any other flower, in isolation from others and observe. In this case, the advice is especially relevant to phalaenopsis. The methods of controlling a mealybug are similar to those with the appearance of scale insects.
Slugs and Snails
Of course, in room conditions they are unlikely to appear. Slugs and snails - this is an attack for those who plant and keep orchids in greenhouses and greenhouses. These mollusks primarily damage buds and peduncles, as well as the tips of rhizomes in orchids. Prevention of their appearance is the timely cleaning of garbage and plant debris from greenhouses. These pests are nocturnal, so when it gets dark you can try to collect them in the light of a flashlight. But it is best to lay out special anti-mucus granules.
The whole secret of a healthy plant is the proper care of it. Observing the desired temperature and humidity, choosing the right soil and location of the plant in the house, setting a competent watering regime, you will protect yourself from many problems.