Aphids are one of the most common garden pests that do not spare even indoor plants. Ornamental flowers are attacked no less than tomatoes or apple trees. But it becomes especially insulting to the owner when aphids settle on orchids. After all, expensive tropical beauties are usually presented as a gift, and you really want to keep them for a long time. Today we'll talk about how to get rid of pests with the least loss to the plant.
Signs of defeat
In order for your flowers to grow he althy and delight with abundant buds, you need to pay enough attention to them. That is, not only water and feed, but also regularly inspect for the appearance of pests. The juicy, fleshy stems are tasty prey for many insects, and the most unpleasant of them are small aphids.
There are quite a few varieties of it, so it's quite difficult to say in advance which one will attack your plants. Aphids on orchids can be grey, green, yellow, white or orange. Some varieties are clearly visible on the leaves, others are almost indistinguishable. Insects live in large groups, in which there are always larvae and eggs, winged and wingless females.
If formations, growths or just dots appear on the bottom of the leaves, you need to try to remove them. Aphids do not have a chitinous cover and are very easy to crush. Actually, this is the first way to get rid of aphids on orchids. True, it works well only if there are still a few pests.
Deep inspection
Tiny insects, which are located in the axils of the leaves on the underside, may remain invisible for some time. What should alert the grower? The first factor is the presence of white scales on the green parts of the plant. This is nothing more than the remnants of the skin of pests, which they get rid of as they grow. The gray and white aphids reproduce very quickly and require emergency rescue measures.
What to look out for
What is the main danger of aphids on orchids? How to get rid of this pest? Let's talk about everything in order.
- Aphid settles on the underside of the leaves, and then moves along the stem to the very buds.
- The entire colony feeds on plant sap. Therefore, the leaves begin to turn black, and the plant may die.
- Due to the secretion of a sweet liquid, the entire plant is covered with a sticky coating. It gets in the waynormal breathing and worsens the condition of the plant.
- After the appearance of aphids, ants can also attack, who love to feast on sweet secretions. That is, you have to deal with two problems at the same time.
- When pests are detected, action must be taken immediately, otherwise the mass reproduction of aphids will lead to the death of flowers.
Routes of infection
Most often in the summer, plants are taken out to the balcony or they just stand by the open window. Despite the fact that the tropical beauty does not like drafts, the influx of fresh air affects the plant very favorably. But! Just at this time, aphids appear on orchids. Winged individuals fly into the window, after which they begin to actively lay eggs and multiply.
The second common way of infection is the relocation of pests from new plants or donated lush bouquets. In this case, aphids can appear year-round. Therefore, it is advisable to keep all new plants in quarantine for at least three weeks, and inspection should be carried out at least once a week. Infested soil can also be a cause, but this is not a very popular way for pests to spread.
Methods of struggle
So, you have examined the plant and now you know for sure that there are aphids on the orchids. How to deal with this pest? There are many ways, each of which is good in its own way. Do not forget that when the first signs of aphid settlement appear, the affected plant must bequarantined, separate from other green pets. As a first aid, you need to arrange a bath for the plant. Try using a jet of water to knock aphids off the leaves. Damaged leaves and buds are best removed.
Folk methods of struggle
With a slight damage to the plant, it is best to use these methods. Aphids on orchids at home breed quite quickly, so do not waste time. The following measures can be considered the most effective:
- Processing with soapy water. To do this, a tablespoon of grated laundry or tar soap must be dissolved in a liter of water. Sponge lather and apply to stems and leaves.
- Citrus infusion. To do this, 100 g of peel should be poured with a liter of boiling water and insisted for 3 days. Spray the plant three to four times a day. Spread dried peels on the surface of the soil.
- You can spray with a solution of vinegar. Insects are very sensitive to acid attack. To do this, add 50 g of vinegar to a liter of water.
- Onion infusion repels insects well. To prepare it, you need to chop a large onion, pour it with a liter of boiling water and wait until the solution has cooled. After that, the product can be poured into the sprayer and the flower is well processed. It is necessary to carry out processing 4-5 times a day until the complete disappearance of insects.
- Manual collection. A small number of insects can be removed manually. Be sure to spray the orchid with one of the listed solutions after this.
Chemistryin your home
Folk methods are good because their use is completely safe for the plant itself and pets, as well as for humans. But such processing is not always effective. But modern chemicals work with 100% efficiency. Therefore, feel free to go to the flower shop for drugs, but for now we will tell you what to do. Aphids with orchids after insecticides disappear within a day.
According to the mode of action, drugs are divided into intestinal, contact or systemic action. Which one works best against aphids? The most popular can be considered the funds "Aktara", "Arrow", "Bison". Fitoverm and Entobakterin work well.
Processing Features
Prepare a solution according to the instructions for the drug, after which the concentration should be reduced by another half. The fact is that the orchid is a very delicate plant. Therefore, it is best to process one copy, and then observe it for several days. If there is no negative reaction, that is, yellowing of the leaves or the appearance of spots on them, then you can repeat the procedure on other plants. Because of the rapid addiction, it is worth alternating the chemicals used.
Prevention measures
It's best to just keep aphids off your orchids. A photo of a flowering plant can provoke anyone to buy it, but you also need to understand your responsibility. The orchid requires extra attention, especially if you want to bloom.repeated. The following measures are being taken for prevention:
- When watering, make sure that water does not fall on the buds and flowers.
- Aphid loves dry air, while an orchid, on the contrary, loves moist air. Therefore, the leaves should be sprayed regularly with cool water.
- Pests almost never attack a strong and he althy plant, so you need to feed regularly.
- Check the plant at least once a week.
These simple measures will help protect the tropical beauty from the attack of aphids or quickly give her first aid.
