Orchid Plant Diseases - Tips On Treating Orchid Diseases

Treating orchid diseases of the roots requires removal of the plant from its medium and using a sterile knife to cut off infected material. Then use a fungicide to drench the roots and clean the growing area with a 10% bleach solution. If enough roots survived, the plant may regain its health.

What is the best fungicide for orchids?

Cinnamon is an excellent fungicide, and ground cinnamon may be applied straight from the spice jar directly to the exposed area where infected portions of the plant have been excised. First Rays Orchids also recommends mixing cinnamon with either casein-based glue (such as Elmer's) or cooking oil to form a thick paste.

How do I get rid of brown spots on my orchid leaves?

Immediately remove infected foliage using a sterilized razor. Relocate your orchid to expose it to better air circulation, lower humidity and temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees. Spray your orchid with a good quality, broad-spectrum fungicide, following package directions.

How do you treat an orchid fungus?

You can treat both conditions with baking soda mixed at a rate of 4 teaspoons per gallon of water. 1 Also add 2 teaspoons of refined horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Apply the solution to the affected areas every two weeks. If that does not work, try copper fungicide.

How do you bring an orchid plant back to life?

Step 1: Materials. In addition to your devastated orchid, you'll need: ...
Step 2: Wash Orchid. First, take your poor Medusa rooted orchid remnants out the pot or planter it's in, and give it a good fresh water rinse. ...
Step 3: Trim Away Dead Roots. ...
Step 4: Rinse Again. ...
Step 5: Repot. ...
Step 6: Watch It Grow - Again!

What does Cinnamon do for orchids?

1. Cinnamon. Not only does it taste and smell good, cinnamon is a natural fungicide, which makes it useful for protecting your orchid plant from fungus and bacteria. How to Use It: After you have trimmed your orchid's leaves, stem or roots, sprinkle a little dusting of cinnamon over the areas.

How often should orchids be watered?

So how do you water orchids? The easiest way is to soak your orchid in a bowl of water once every week or two --- when the moss dries out. Unlike most houseplants, you don't need to keep orchid moss evenly moist; if it stays too moist, the orchid can rot.

What do Overwatered orchids look like?

Watch out for these telltale signs: Loss of buds for no apparent reason: If your buds are dropping and you can't figure out why, root rot might be the cause. Soft, withered leaves: Healthy orchid leaves are strong and hold their shape. ... Black, squishy orchid roots: This is the biggest indicator of root rot.

Should I cut off Brown orchid leaves?

As long as the stems on your orchid remain vibrant, plump and green, it is fine to leave them alone. Healthy orchids often re-bud from these stems. But if you see that the stems are beginning to turn yellow or brown or to wither up and die off, it is time to prune them to reduce stress to the plant.

What orchid leaves tell you?

Orchids should have bright green, healthy leaves. Dark green leaves indicate that a plant is getting insufficient light, and yellowish-green or red leaves indicate that a plant is getting too much light. If you suspect a plant is exposed to too much light, feel the leaves.

What is the white stuff on my orchids?

What are Mealybugs and what do they look like? Mealybugs are a fairly common pest of orchids, especially Phalaenopsis. At first glance it looks as though the plant has some sort of cottony white fluffy mass on its leaves. Closer examination reveals a wingless insect that is feeding on the plant's tissue.

What is crown rot in orchids?

What is Orchid Crown Rot? Crown rot in orchids is very common. It occurs when the crown of the plant (the area where the leaves join with the base of the plant) starts to rot. It's so common because it's pretty much always caused by human error. Crown rot occurs when water is allowed to pool at the base of the leaves.

How do you heal an orchid?

3 Natural Remedies for Orchid Fungus

After you have trimmed your orchid's leaves, stem or roots, sprinkle a little dusting of cinnamon over the areas. ...
Dip your fingers, a cotton ball or a cotton swab in the alcohol and remove any mealybugs you see. ...
Spray directly onto the affected area of the orchid and let sit for five minutes.

How do you know your orchid is dying?

1) Crown and roots: If the crown--the part of the plant that connects the leaves and the roots--is brown and mushy (this can occur from too much water), the orchid is likely dead. However, a healthy, resting orchid has roots that are green or white and plump or firm to the touch.

How do you not kill an orchid?

8 Ways to Kill Your Orchid

Water it every day. ...
Establish a watering schedule for your orchid. ...
Water your orchid whenever you water your other plants. ...
Water your Phalaenopsis orchid with ice cubes. ...
Find out where your orchid is native to and water it when the Weather Channel says it's raining there.

How do you get an orchid to rebloom inside?

Follow these simple steps to help reblooming begin.

Continue to water your orchid with 3 ice cubes once a week. ...
Fertilize your orchid once or twice a month using a balanced houseplant fertilizer at half strength. ...
Help your orchids grow by providing plenty of indirect sunlight.
Put your orchid in a cooler spot at night.

Are egg shells good for orchids?

Orchids, just like every other plant, love nutrients, and they reward your efforts with lovely flowers. Crushed eggshells, when added to the soil, improves the calcium, potassium, and protein nutrients of the soil. ... Alternatively, you can also use the water when it cools down to water your orchids.

How long does it take for an orchid to rebloom?

Phalaenopsis are among the few orchids that will rebloom in home conditions. The spike should be cut between the scar that's left by the first flower and the last node (that little lump) on the stem. One of the lower nodes will then initiate and produce flowers within eight to 12 weeks.

How do I get rid of the white stuff on my orchid?

If you spot just a few pests, you can target them with rubbing alcohol to kill them, or spray them off your moth orchid with water. Afterward, coating foliage in horticultural oil or insecticidal soap can keep them away.

Should orchids be watered from the top or bottom?

To master watering orchids, it is essential to water from above with fresh, pure water. For orchids with water storage, pseudobulbs, water when the potting mix is approaching dry. Otherwise, for orchids without water storage, without pseudobulbs, keep the potting mix barely damp.

How do I get my orchids to bloom more?

“In your house, you tend not to have big drops; the temperature tends to be set to a steady 68 degrees,” says Mary. So put your orchid in a room that gets a little cold by the window—and put your orchid in the window. When the sun goes down, the heat will drop and the cold will stimulate it to re-bloom.

Do orchids like to be misted?

Misting gives the orchid more humidity but does not create a soggy root environment. It is best to put your orchid where it will receive medium indirect sunlight. ... To ensure bright blooms and a healthy plant, use a potting mixture and a fertilizer that is specifically designed for orchids.