Orchids, as you know, flowers are quite whimsical. Such indoor plants need to be properly watered and fed. Very often, the owners of such exotic flowers, unfortunately, have to deal with various diseases and pests. For example, some indoor plant lovers are interested in what to do if a white coating was seen on orchids.
What could be causing the problem
A white coating on homemade orchids may appear due to fungi or pests. In order to correctly diagnose the disease, the owner of such a plant first of all needs to examine it most carefully.
If the plaque is mostly located on the lower part of the leaves of the flower, you will most likely have to deal with powdery mildew. This is the name of a disease caused by a special type of fungus. If the plaque is noticeable mainly on the upper parts of the leaves, the cause of it is most likely a mealybug.
Also, the owner of a sick orchid will need to feel its leaves. If a raid onthey are sticky, which means that the plant is most likely infected with a scale insect.
Powdery mildew: causes and symptoms
Besides the lower part of the leaves, the spores of the fungus of this species also usually germinate on orchid buds. Areas covered with white bloom with such a disease soon begin to turn yellow and dry out. If the owner of the plant does not take measures to save it, it will die soon.
The reasons for the development of powdery mildew and the appearance of white bloom on orchids in most cases are unsuitable conditions. The owner of such a plant may face this problem, for example, if:
- the soil under the flower is periodically waterlogged;
- plant pot placed in a humid room;
- The temperature in the room where the orchid is kept is too high.
That is, the risk of developing powdery mildew is significantly increased in "greenhouse" conditions, when the room is too humid and stuffy. It is in this case that white bloom often appears on orchids. Powdery mildew disease is dangerous, but it can still be cured. To do this, you need to use some kind of insecticide.
Prevention and treatment
In order to prevent the development of powdery mildew and, accordingly, white bloom on the orchid, it should therefore be placed in a room that is not too warm and humid. Also, in order to prevent fungal infection, the plant needs to be treated from time to time."Fitosporin", according to the instructions from the manufacturer.
If the orchid has already become infected with powdery mildew, it is also best to treat it using modern antifungal drugs. It can be, for example, "Skor", "Topsin-M", "Fito-plus".
Main symptoms of mealybug infestation
In this case, on the top of the orchid leaf, most likely, not only the white coating itself will be visible, but also flakes of the same color. Other symptoms of a mealybug infection are:
- deceleration of shoot development;
- yellowing or reddening of leaves;
- falling leaves.
Most often Phalaenopsis orchids suffer from this parasite. In such flowers, the shoots are usually very affected by the mealybug in the first place.
Appearance of the parasite
If white blooms appear on orchids, it must be examined for the presence of worms. This pest belongs to the coccid family and has a size of 0.5-12 mm. The males of the mealybug are hardly noticeable and look like small mosquitoes. Their body color is white. The male mealybug does not have a mouth and does not harm plants.
The females of this parasite are oblong in shape. Their body color is also white. The females of some varieties of mealybugs have legs, while others do not. In any case, the oral apparatus in females is developed just fine. They use them to suck the juices out of the plant.
White plaque on orchids: what to do when infected with a mealybug
This insect can appear on the plant, for example, after the owner of the apartment buys some new flower. All home decorative crops purchased from a store or brought from friends should be kept in a separate room for the first couple of weeks. This will allow timely detection of diseases and prevent infection of other plants in the house.
Also, worms may be present in purchased store or garden greenhouse soil. The day before planting orchids, such soil must be steamed and spilled with boiling water.
If an orchid becomes infected with a mealybug, unfortunately it will be very difficult to help it. The body of these parasites is covered with a thick shell. Therefore, they are poorly taken by both purchased insecticides and folk remedies.
You can try to remove the worms from a sick orchid manually. Severely affected shoots should be removed. Next, the plant must be treated, for example, with compounds such as Fitoverm, Aktara, Calypso.
Drug reviews
The remedies for the worm described above, as lovers of ornamental plants note, help only in combination with manual processing. Sometimes, unfortunately, judging by the reviews, all these drugs still remain powerless.
If it was not possible to help the plant using "Calypso", "Fitoverma" or "Actara", experienced flower growers advise treating the flower with "Aktellik". This tool has earned good reviews from houseplant lovers for the fact that it almost always destroys worms. Howeverthe drug is very strong and should be used carefully.
Symptoms of scab infestation
Such pests in most cases affect weakened orchids. Signs of infection with a scab, in addition to a white-gray plaque, are:
- brown bulges;
- appearance of yellow spots, and then the drying and death of foliage;
- dropping of unopened buds.
The leaves of an infected orchid look lethargic and unhe althy.
Routes of infection
Scale insects and a white coating appear on orchids, usually if they have been improperly cared for. Such a disease can be caused, for example, by frequent waterlogging, the use of too much nitrogenous fertilizers, hypothermia, prolonged exposure to dry air, etc.
The scale insects themselves on orchids, like mealybugs, usually come from recently acquired plants or soil. Some lovers of home flowers claim that such insects can enter apartments through open windows. However, only males can fly in scale insects. Plants are harmed by women.
What a parasite looks like
The appearance of a white sticky coating on the orchid, thus, may indicate infection with its scale insect. This pest, like the worm, belongs to the coccid family. Female scale insects lack not only wings, but also legs, eyes, and antennae. But such an insect has a very well-developed oral apparatus. Only young female scale insects with still softshell.
The color of scale insects is white or light brown. The shell of these pests can be either spherical or flat. In any case, its color is usually dark yellow or brown.
Male scale insects are mostly white. They don't have a mouth, but they do have eyes, legs, and wings. On the body of males, the head, abdomen and chest are visible. Males also have a shield, but a small one.
Treatment
As in the case of the mealybug, new plants purchased at the store should be quarantined for at least 2 weeks to avoid infection of orchids with scale insects. Of course, in this case, preventive soil treatment should also be done.
Sometimes folk remedies fight against the scale insect on orchids. But most home plant lovers agree that chemicals are the most effective way to deal with this parasite. It is possible to process an orchid with a white coating on the leaves when infected with a scab, for example, with such means as "Confidor", "Fitoverm", "Aktara". As in the case of worms, Actellik also helps very well from scale insects.
