Midges have started up in the orchid - what to do? How to get rid of them? Why did they appear in a pot? How can you process an indoor flower

Solutions and infusions from bugs

Use a potassium permanganate solution to destroy bugs on indoor flowers. They need to spray the plants daily for 1 week.

It is important to carry out a water procedure before this. It is required to take a plant affected by bugs and put it under the shower for 10-15 minutes

After a week of fighting bugs, you will need to leave indoor flowers for three days. After this time, carefully inspect them. If bugs are still present in some areas, then treat with potassium permanganate solution 4 more times. After that, the pests will completely disappear.

Tincture of calendula helps a lot against bugs. It is diluted in warm water in the following ratio 1: 5. The finished solution is required to spray indoor plants every other day until the pests completely disappear. In case of severe damage to flowers by bugs, you should use tobacco infusion. It is not required to breed it beforehand. It is necessary to spray every indoor plant affected by pests with it three times with an interval of a week. A similar procedure for getting rid of bugs is carried out using garlic infusion.

How to get rid of pests

So, when the process of identifying insects is completed, it is time for active and decisive action. The easiest way to get rid of fruit flies is to remove everything that is subject to decay, and these flies will go in search of food elsewhere.

Thrips are a little more complicated. First of all, the infected flower should be isolated from others, while they have not yet been attacked by the parasite. After that, the plant is washed under a warm shower and sanitized. Places of cuts are processed with charcoal, and the plant itself and the soil with preparations like Fitoverma.

Laundry soap is often used as an aid against whiteflies, with a solution of which the orchid leaves are washed. Also resourceful florists came up with the idea of using a vacuum cleaner, which effectively removes most of the disturbed moths. However, insecticides remain the main means of fighting gnats.

For mushroom gnats, you can set up traps using tape or a mixture of vinegar and detergent. Means are also used to control insects at various stages of development. There is a method of treating the soil with hydrogen peroxide - an alternative option for those who do not recognize insecticides.

The picture of the disease

At first glance, this pest looks like a small piece of cotton wool, but under the white bristles, which are threads of wax, an oval-shaped insect, about 0.4-0.5 centimeters in size, is hiding. This is a female mealybug.

The insect feeds on plant juices and, as a result, deprives it of nutrients necessary for normal development. An additional problem is created by the sweet secret (pad), which is intensely secreted by the females. This sticky liquid, remaining on the leaves and stem of the orchid, can cause fungal growth or attract other pests. A particularly large volume of honeydew is produced by the female citrus mealybug, which is more common on orchids.

Symptoms of a mealybug affection of an orchid:

small white furry bugs are localized on the leaves, flower stalks, buds, orchid core;
sticky spots or droplets on the surface of the leaves;
a white coating that looks like powder;
yellowing (or redness) and leaf fall;
slowing or stopping growth;
deformation of buds and flowers.

Attention! An unpleasant feature of most species of these pests is the ability of females to reproduce without being fertilized by males. Moreover, each individual can lay 200-400 eggs.

How to get rid of pests at home

To get rid of midges in orchids, they study the species that will have to be fought. If thrips appear, then the greens are treated with Fitoverm, Atellik. Apply the chemical at least three times with an interval of 10 days. A sick phalaenopsis is removed from healthy plants during treatment. Thrips appear when the soil is dry, so phalaenopsis cannot be overdried.

It is necessary to process not only the surface of the orchid, but also the root system. The contaminated soil must be replaced. The first step is to remove the pests with a warm stream of water. The damaged parts of the plant are cut off, and the cut is treated with charcoal.

If you do not want to use strong chemicals, you can try folk remedies for eliminating pests. These are soapy water, garlic infusion, olive oil, grape oil. After covering the foliage with a solution, the process of photosynthesis slows down, which will reduce the distribution of the species.

To combat the whitefly use "Bezudin", "Fury", "Aktellik", "Aktar". You can wash the foliage with a solution of laundry soap. If there are a lot of larvae, then you can try to carefully collect them with a vacuum cleaner when the epiphyte is in pots. You need to get rid of them carefully, without harming the epiphyte.

Fact! The richest collection of orchids is in Singapore. The park has over 60 thousand species.

When scirids appear in orchids, it is best to destroy them with adhesive tape. To heal the pest from the substrate, you can apply an insecticide to the soil. An insecticide for flying insects is used to treat the window sill and the flower.

If Drosophila midges are introduced into the orchids, you need to remove all food debris and make the species starve.

Getting rid of the larvae on the orchid

You need to get rid of the larvae on the orchid in a timely manner. Aphids on phalaenopsis appear either already in the store or at home. Aphid larvae are multicolor. The flower can be overcome by white midges, black midges, green, gray blades. An individual starts up quickly enough, crawling from neighboring flowers. When the midges are already in the orchids, they begin to get rid of them. Aphids are removed using a soap solution or treated with Fitoverm. Most larvae appear in a humid environment. It is not only the epiphyte leaf that overcomes the aphid. Larvae breed on the bark. To get rid of the larvae, leaves and bark are treated. Do this with water, soapy water.

How to avoid midges

If small midges are introduced as a preventive measure, a healthy orchid is isolated from infected flowers. Phalaenopsis is treated with anthelmintic drugs. Make a regular inspection of the home flower garden at least once a week. It is easier to prevent the appearance of a pest than to treat phalaenopsis later. It is imperative to observe the water regime and not create humid conditions that are favorable for midges.

To prevent flowers from getting infected from each other, you should not accumulate many types of plants on one window. After buying a flower in a store, it is better to immediately transplant it into new soil and a pot.

Aphids on an orchid: how to quickly get rid of, effective ways to combat a pest Orchid is a delicate and beautiful, but very demanding flower to care for. The plant is sensitive to temperature extremes, ...

Why do insects appear on plants?

Often the larvae of the pest are brought in together with the soil. After flowers are planted in it, midges appear, which multiply rapidly. If insects start in one of the pots with indoor plants, they will also inhabit the neighboring ones, if there are suitable conditions. One of the main conditions is sufficient soil moisture.

If you notice damage, but did not find pests, delay using chemicals - this may be the result of sunburn or other troubles

Most often, sciarids settle in the soil where orchids grow - small insects 3-5 mm long, black in color, popularly called flower midges. In fact, these are mushroom or fruit gnats, similar to small flies. These insects lay eggs in the ground, where larvae, similar to worms, 6-7 mm long, white, develop.

Sciarids themselves do not harm plants, but their larvae damage seedlings, thin roots of weakened plants and seedlings. These injuries can become foci of rot and places of infection with fungal diseases. Therefore, small black "midges" that have settled in orchids are capable of causing significant harm to plants.

Another type of insect that infects orchids and looks like midges is thrips. The insects are very small, only 2–2.5 mm long. They are capable of causing serious damage to any type of orchid. Thrips look like small dark brown or black "sticks", equipped with two pairs of wings, which are folded on their back.

They run fast and instantly hide in the ground. Unlike sciarids, thrips, having flown to the plant, try to hide in the substrate as quickly as possible. These pests are nocturnal, and it is extremely rare to see them during the day. Therefore, to make sure that thrips are bred on the orchid, some growers are guarding near the flowerpot with a flashlight.

Sometimes fruit flies (fruit flies) settle in pots where orchids grow. It is a small insect about 3 mm long. They feed on fermented fruits and vegetables, as well as plant residues. In the substrate, these midges settle if the plants are watered with tea leaves or sprinkled with the remains of tea from a teapot as fertilizer, which is undesirable.

Sometimes they are attracted by semi-rotten moss or peat. But fruit flies can choose a flower pot as a breeding ground if the soil in it is constantly over-watered. For plants, the insects themselves and their larvae are completely harmless, but flower growers should be alerted to the fact of their settlement in the ground - there is definitely excessive watering, which may not be harmless to the root system.

Keep a close eye on watering the orchid - excessive moisture in the soil can cause midges to appear

Let's list a few more factors that contribute to the appearance of midges on the surface of a plant or in the soil itself:

abundant or irregular watering (it is necessary to let the soil stand completely dry for at least two to three days);
the presence of decorative moss on the surface of the earth (it does not allow the soil to breathe);
fertilization with folk remedies such as tea leaves, coffee grounds, eggshells;
moistening with water infused with bread or other yeast products.

Pest types

Shields

Scabbards are small insects that are not particularly visible with the naked eye. The main feature of scale insects is dark bumps or mounds on orchid stems. It is under these growths that these insects are hidden. Scabbards prefer orchids with denser and sturdier stems.

The main threat to the flower of the scale insects is that they feed on the juice from the stems of orchids. By this, pests slow down the growth of the flower or lead to its death. Also scale insects love orchids with dense leaves.

You will find all the details on how to get rid of the scale insect on an orchid in a separate article.

Aphid

Aphids are small insects that predominate in black or green. Aphids settle on young orchids, preferring the leaves of the plant. You can notice these pests on the back of the leaf. Also, the presence of aphids is indicated by deformation of orchid leaves and a sticky bloom.

Aphids suck the juices from the flower, like the scale insect.But the difference between this pest and the scale insect is that, sucking the juice from the stems and leaves, the aphid injects the poisonous substance back. This substance also causes deformation of the leaves and stems of orchids. Also, aphids are a carrier of fungal and viral plant diseases.

We talked about how to deal with aphids on your plant here.

Mealybug

Mealybugs form plaque on the stems, leaves of plants, as well as in the soil and even on the walls of the pot in which the orchid grows. This plaque builds up predominantly around female scale insects. It resembles cotton wool in consistency. If the stem or leaf of a flower is raised, then, in addition to plaque, it is possible to find larvae of scale insects.

You will find practical advice on the fight against mealybugs in this material.

Spider mite

This pest forms a thin cobweb around the stem of the orchid, as well as on its leaves. This significantly prevents the penetration of sunlight and air onto the plants, which slows down its growth or even leads to the death of the flower.

Important! It is very difficult to detect spider mites in the early stages, therefore, frequent examination of the orchid for cobwebs is necessary. If you run it, the flower may die .. You can read about the spider mite here, and what other types of mites can attack your beauty and how to get rid of them, you will learn here

You can read about the spider mite here, and what other types of mites can attack your beauty and how to get rid of them, you will find out here.

Watch a video about the spider mite pest of indoor plants:

Puffs

Puffers (or they are also called springtails) are gray-brown or gray-white insects that mainly move along the soil in which the orchid grows. Most often they can be found after watering the flower. This type of pest loves moist soil. Mostly, springtails live in the ground, which is dominated by moss.

It is very difficult to catch these pests, as they are very jumpy and fast. In terms of their speed, podugs resemble animal fleas. The main danger these pests are for the roots of orchids, often for young roots. Therefore, the faster you protect the orchid from springtails, the greater the chance that the flower will remain alive.

Watch a video about pests of orchid puffs (springtails):

Woodlice

Woodlice are not a very common pest. However, if wood lice get into a pot with an orchid, then the flower is under a real threat.

Note! Most often, woodlice fall into the ground if your pet was outside in the summer. Often these pests crawl out of the water pan in which the orchid is located .. You will learn about all types of orchid pests in another article.

You will learn about all types of orchid pests in another article.

Prophylaxis

In order not to start pests, flower growers should act as follows:

Observe the watering regime (let the flower stand for 2-3 days with completely dried soil).
Maintain an optimal moisture level in the room.
Put a citrus peel or a sprig of lavender next to a flower pot - they scare away midges.
Do not store food leftovers in the kitchen, throw away garbage bags on time.
Any soil mixture, including one purchased in the store, should be kept in the cold for a couple of days before planting, for example, in the freezer. This procedure will kill all existing midges.
Wipe the sheet plates with a damp cloth, and periodically with soapy water.
Place mosquito nets on window openings to avoid mosquitoes from the street.

We talked about why insects appear that make your beauty suffer and lead to her death, how to deal with them and what are the preventive measures, we talked about in separate articles. Read about such pests: different types of mites, including spider mites, scale insects, mealybugs, aphids, beetles and other various small insects.

Types of midges

It is important to know what kind of midges are in the orchids in order to find an effective way to fight. To do this, it is worth taking a closer look at the appearance of insects and determine how often the plants they have settled on

Sciarids

Sciarids in orchids

Most often, small midges in orchids are sciarids, black insects, 3-5 cm long. They are popularly called the flower midge. In reality, these are fruit or mushroom mosquitoes, which outwardly resemble small flies. They lay eggs in the ground, after which white worm-like larvae begin to develop there. Sciarids do not harm plants, but their larvae feed on the roots of seedlings, weakened plants and seedlings. The sites of damage become foci of rot and the appearance of fungus.

Whiteflies

Whiteflies in orchids

Sometimes white midges are visible on orchids or photos of flowers. But these are butterflies - whiteflies. They hide well and are able to fly quickly, one has only to touch the plant. Most often, these pests of indoor plants are not interested in dense leaves, they prefer the delicate skin of orchids. The insects themselves and their larvae feed on the sap of this plant, extracting it from the leaves. If you do not fight whitefly on indoor flowers, the plant withers, the leaves turn yellow and curl. Insect larvae and eggs are light in color. They can be seen under bark, leaves or on their surface.

Thrips

Orchid thrips

In a pot with an orchid, there is another species - thrips. These are small insects up to 2.5 mm. They cause significant harm to all types of orchids. They resemble sticks, having two pairs of wings folded over their backs. Most often they hide in the ground, prefer a nocturnal lifestyle, so it is extremely difficult to notice them during the day. To make sure that thrips have settled on the flower, you can approach it at night. One of the signs of damage is dark specks on the leaves. These insects lay eggs directly in the leaves, the hatched larvae begin to eat the leaf tissue. As a result, the leaves darken, become covered with small holes, and die off. Such "midges" infect not only leaves, but also flowers and roots.

Fruit midges

It happens that fruit or onion midges appear in the orchid. This insect up to 3 mm in length feeds on sour fruits and vegetables, rotted plant remains. This insect can live in the ground, if watered with tea leaves, sprinkled with tea. Semi-ripe peat or moss can attract midges. If the soil in the pot is too moist, you can expect Drosophila to appear soon. These midges do not harm the plants, but the very fact of their appearance suggests that the soil is too wet, which harms the plant.

How to get rid of pests at home

If midges have already been found in orchids, how to get rid of it can be a serious problem. You can take out midges in the following ways:

using folk recipes;
horticultural chemicals;
by changing the ground.

Please note: When midges are in the orchid, first of all, they examine the foliage and soil. This should be done immediately, until harmful insects have caused irreparable damage to the bark of the flower .. If midges start, then initially, they need to be identified, and then, remove the larvae, adults and overcome the reasons that caused them

It is possible to fight various pests with improvised means. Most orchids, like any flower, are susceptible to attacks by various insects and not all growers trust new-fangled chemical compositions.

If black midges appeared in orchids or white midges overpowered, then it is important to immediately process the flower. For certain reasons, housewives are trying to lime pests that have wound up in the soil of the orchid with natural compounds

If midges are bred, then initially, they need to be identified, and then, remove the larvae, adults and overcome the reasons that caused them. It is possible to fight various pests with improvised means.Most orchids, like any flower, are susceptible to attacks by various insects and not all growers trust new-fangled chemical compositions.

Small midges in orchids are afraid of the following home solutions:

Pass two cloves of garlic through a garlic press and cover with hot water, leaving after that for 4-5 hours. Wipe the foliage on all parts with a solution.
Dissolve a tablespoon of sunflower or olive oil in half a liter of clean water and spray.
Soap solution - add a teaspoon of liquid soap to a glass of water and wipe the leaf surface.

The last recipe can also be used as a prophylaxis, so that small midges do not start. You can make this formulation and apply as soon as one of the symptoms of the disease appears.

Flowers can be treated with chemical compounds. The most suitable are:

Fundazol - protects against all types of dew, mold, rot.
Fitosporin - protects against diseases of a bacterial and fungal nature, can be used for spraying and processing damaged leaves. Use only liquid form.
Antibiotics
Vitamin B.
Urea.
Chlorhexidine.
Iron chelate.
A mixture of succinic acid and glucose.
Epin.
Zircon, Aktelik, Fitoverm, Appolo.
Fertilizers of the nitrogen type.
Based on a mixture of phosphorus and potassium.

Attention! Each fertilizer must be applied carefully so as not to ruin the flower.

Further care

Once the pests have been eliminated, it is important to care for the orchid properly. The most important thing is to observe the watering regime: twice a week in the warm season, once in the cold

Note! If the soil is still damp, it does not need to be watered. The topsoil must be dry for at least 2 days before

It is undesirable to use food waste as a fertilizer (for example, tea leaves). These substances will not provide the plant with everything it needs, but they will attract pests. If there is a need for feeding, it is worth using special ready-made compositions for orchids.

Dying leaves are harvested before they begin to rot, becoming food for midges.

Yellowed leaves that have begun to die off should be removed

Periodically, as a preventive measure, it is recommended to wipe the phalaenopsis leaves with soapy water. It forms a plaque that protects the terrestrial parts of plants from being eaten by pests. You can also sprinkle ash or sand on the soil to prevent insects from entering the soil.

Midges are capable of destroying an orchid, so you need to get rid of them immediately. The listed methods will help to cope with the problem, and preventive measures will prevent the reappearance of insects.

Prevention of infection

To prevent the appearance of midges on orchids, it is enough to follow simple tips:

Do not use tea leaves, egg shell infusion, coffee grounds as an orchid feeding; Clean the plant soil from moss, which is a good breeding ground for many pests; Use special substrates for orchids that contain all the necessary substances for plant growth;

Do not place orchids near food waste; Organize watering correctly. In summer, it is recommended to moisten mail up to 2 times a week, in the cold season - no more than 1 time in 7 days.

If you notice insect pests on indoor flowers, then you should immediately start fighting them. This will prevent serious damage to the plant and its death.

You will be interested: an effective way to get rid of midges on orchids

A source

To protect your pet from subsequent attacks of pests in the form of midges, the grower must adhere to the following rules:

Moisten the soil correctly. The soil should stand dry before the next watering for two to three days.
Try to maintain an optimal level of humidity in the air and substrate.
Place a peel of some citrus fruit or a sprig of lavender next to the flowerpot. These items are excellent at repelling harmful insects.
Do not store leftovers of food indoors, dispose of accumulated garbage in a timely manner.
Any substrate, even bought in a specialty store, should be processed in a freezer or microwave oven.
Monitor the hygiene of the phalaenopsis: arrange a shower for her once a week and wipe the leaves from dust with a damp cloth.
Protect open windows with a mosquito net. So you can limit the invasion of insects at least from the window.

Prevention of infection

In order to prevent insects from starting again, some rules should be followed:

Sprinkle the soil purchased for indoor plants with plenty of water, and then place it in the freezer for several days. During this time, the larvae, if they are in the soil mixture, will die.
A purchased new flower should not be placed immediately in a room where others are located, but placed in a separate room. If after a month there are no pests on it, you can rearrange it with the rest. However, it is not recommended to keep the entire collection on one windowsill.
Install mosquito nets on the windows to prevent insects from entering the house from the street.
Monitor the cleanliness of the room where the orchid stands, discard spoiled fruits and vegetables in a timely manner.
Before transplanting a plant into them, new pots should be disinfected: rinse with boiling water or rinse with a manganese solution.