If a white coating spreads out on the aerial roots and in the substrate, an orchid is infested with mold. If the pathogens are not stopped now, the floral existence is at stake. Read here how you can effectively combat mold with simple measures.
If there is mold in the substrate or on the orchid, you should act quickly
Repot a moldy orchid - this is how it works
Mold on orchids cannot be controlled by merely cutting off the infected aerial roots and discarding infected pieces of substrate. The pathogens are invisible to the human eye for a long time before they appear as a mealy-grey coating. We recommend quarantining the affected plant at the first sign and repotting it promptly. Follow these steps to do this professionally:
- Repot the moldy orchid to spray the substrate with a strong jet of water
- Using clean, freshly sharpened scissors or a scalpel, cut off the infected roots
- Take a new culture pot and fill it with a 1-2 cm high expanded clay drainage (€19.73).
- Fill in a handful of fresh orchid substrate
Place the potted orchid in the fresh pine bark with a twisting motion. Then gradually fill in more substrate, bumping the pot on the table from time to time for a gapless distribution. As the mold could form as a result of too high humidity, do not water or immerse the plant for the first few days. Only daily spraying with lime-free water provides roots and leaves with the necessary moisture.
Tips for preventing mold
Mold spores thrive wherever continuous moisture dominates. Since orchids nevertheless require high humidity, a good deal of tact is required in this regard. You deprive mold of its livelihood if you heed the following aspects of care:
- Spray aerial roots and leaves every 2-3 days
- Only water an orchid when the substrate has dried well
- Ideally, submerge the root ball in soft, lukewarm water until no more air bubbles appear
- Always carefully drain excess water before placing the culture pot in the cachepot
- In winter, water very sparingly and spray more frequently
Simple air humidifiers, which are commercially available at low cost, ensure the desired humidity of more than 50 percent. In winter, place a bowl filled with water on each active radiator. A babbling indoor fountain or an aquarium in the room are also helpful. Simply fill an existing coaster with expanded clay and water.
tips
If the leaves of an orchid are covered with a mealy-grey patina, there is a high probability that it is not mold, but the fungal infection powdery mildew. Do not cut off the diseased foliage in the early stages. Instead, fight the disease with a mix of lime-free water and fresh milk in a ratio of 9:3. The solution is sprayed on the tops and bottoms every 2 days until the plaque disappears.