No one can possible resist orchids in bloom as their flowers are exquisite enough to arouse all the senses.

Well, guess what! Orchid plants and their delicate beauty also attract a variety of pest. Thankfully it does not happen very often but when it does, it can be fatal.

Which pests may attack your orchid plants depends on your geographic location and the weather conditions as well as the season but the most commonly found pests are the following:

  • Aphids bite into the leaves or stems or the orchid plant and suck out its fluids. This results in rotting.
  • Whiteflies seem to have an insatiable craving for orchid plants.
  • Meal bugs voraciously feed off orchid plants until there is nothing left. These pests tend to be the hardest to get rid of.
  • Scale bugs also love the taste of orchid plants and they eat them in order to double, triple and quadruple their body mass.
  • Spider mites form webs on orchid plants.
  • Millipedes and centipedes eat the rot of orchid plants which they caused and they will also get to the root system.
  • Snails and slugs savor the flavor of orchid plants.

With so many enemies lurking about, are your orchids doomed? No, they are not! There are means by which to solve the pest problems and I would suggest that you start out by using natural pest control for orchids which you have prepared at home.

There are literally countless of homemade pest control concoctions instructions for which you can find online or at your local library. I will give you two of my personal favorites:

  • Combining ¼ cup of concentrated lime juice with one quart of warm water and a few drops of soap (not detergent). Spray a very small amount on the affected plant and watch those pests scamper away, especially spider mites.
  • Throw a quart of water into your blender and add one teaspoon of tobasco sauce plus 4 cloves of garlic. Blend thoroughly and then strain before pouring into a spray bottle. Spray your infested orchid plants and the insects such as whiteflies, aphids, spider mites and caterpillars will run for their lives.

Take a few moments of your time to review the following video which will give you’re
a better idea about natural pest control. It’s really worth your while!

Of course, you can always find natural and organic or chemical pest controls formulas in gardening centers and nurseries in your home town or online. Or you could invite a miniature army of ladybugs or grasshoppers who will be happy to eat the aphids or mites that have attacked your orchids.

We at Orchid Care.org are passionate about orchids just like you are. For more terrific tips about orchid care, supplies, and much more; take your time to review all our articles and do come back often because we will continue writing more and more informative articles.

Filed under: Orchid Supplies

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