In Orchid Care The Flower Will Tell You About Some Diseases Tale for orchid care the flower. The orchid flower is usually a thing of beauty. When diseases strike it can be tell - tale. Like the leaves, the flower can tell you a great deal. Let's take a look at what we will learn... Spotting of Flowers A sign of fungal infection or mold is pink or light brown spots on the flower. When you see either, orchid care will suggest to be careful with your other plants as the infection can spread to other plants. Remove the orchid flowers that are affected. The remedy is to get more circulation. Flowers With Punctures Yes, those aphids can get at orchids, too. Also, some insects including Thrips. Orchid care the flower suggests that the remedy is spray the orchid with malathion, but be careful and use a face mask. Flowers With Mottled Colors Here caring for orchids will strongly suggest a second opinion is necessary. The cause could be a color losing virus. Even if this is suspected then isolate the plant. If it is a virus then you need to destroy the plant. Bruised Flowers The causes of bruising are many. It could simply be from mechanical injury. If this is the case the area of damage will not increase or go on to other flowers. But it could also be from slugs or even cockroaches. You may need to investigate and use some dust to bait them. If from cockroaches then diazinon or Sevin on the ground around the plant, on the plant and the pot as well. Caring for orchids also shows that the bruising can be from red aphids. If so use the malathion treatment. Rapid Wilting Of The Flower If you see wilting of the flower, especially the dorsal or upper septal this can be caused by a sudden temperature change or pollination from an "unknown" pollinator. (I didn't think orchid flowers were that particular!!). The remedies are those that make sense, moderate the temp changes and remove the affected flowers. Not sure what to do for the unknown attacker. Deformed Flowers Caring for orchids is not complete without the a word about deformed orchids. Common causes include; low humidity or high temp when the buds were developing mechanical or chemical injury during bud formation the bud has acquired an unexplained deformity the potential of a virus infection, (you see many of the flowers have the deformity). Need to isolate the plant. Caring for orchids does involve looking at the "whole plant". In orchid care the flower is important. Visit our Orchid Store: http://www.orchid-store.orchids-plus-more.com ** This article can be used freely as long as the author and the Orchids-Plus-More.com are identified within the article |
