Growth Tips (Pest Control)

Molluscs like slugs and snails also cause a lot of harm to orchids, especially the potted ones, because of easy accessibility. Hanging orchids are safe. Slugs and snails become active at night when they sneakily eat away the softer parts. The easiest way to stop them from wreaking havoc is circling the pots with a line of salt. You can also use bleaching powder in place of salt, but before doing that please check whether its use is not banned in your area. No slug or snail dare cross thus line, as salt can be fatal for slugs/snails.

Ants too can put an end to your efforts of growing orchids. The moist and warms conditions around the orchid roots are quite congenial for them. I found them building nests inside the coconut husks and underneath the small pebbles in the pots. Once I even noticed a whole colony of ants shifting with their eggs into my orchid pots! Once inside they eat the roots and also harbour harmful bacteria and virus. A very effective way to drive away ants is to spray Kerosene oil on to the plants. I did not notice any harmful effect of Kerosene on orchids, but was quite relieved to see ants vanish. Kerosene also drives away other pests like crows, slugs etc.

Fungal, viral and bacterial infections are very common to orchids, mainly because of similar the growing conditions. Keep the plant parts such as leaves, flowers stem dry while watering, as wet parts attract fungal growth. If infected by vial or bacteria, immediately remove the infected part or segregate the whole plant. Personally, I am not in favour of using any kind of insecticide, pesticide or even weedicide. I have not used any so far, so I would find it difficult to advise on these, I would rather stick to the principle Prevention is better than cure. So take care, be healthy and live wise.

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Growth Tips (Pest Control)