They are tiny, capable of procreation and suck the sap from the leaf veins of orchids. Lice show no reverence for the queen of flowers, but spread explosively on leaves and shoots. Our tips for successfully fighting it show how you can put a stop to the plague. This is how it works without chemicals.
Cotton-like substances indicate lice infestation
These symptoms signal a lice infestation
Lice come in a variety of forms. Mealybugs and mealybugs are 3-5 mm small, white, light brown or pink in color and have smearing, woolly hairs. In contrast, cover or scale insects are just as tiny and are located under a shell-like shield, which makes combating them extremely difficult. Yellowish-green to dark aphids are 2-7 mm in size and more mobile than other aphids. We have summarized the most common symptoms of an infestation for you here:
- White webs and small cotton balls indicate mealybugs and mealybugs
- Tiny bumps on the leaves indicate the presence of scale insects
- Aphids first colonize the underside of the leaves in hordes
Because the lice deprive the orchids of their lifeblood, they are extremely weakened. In the advanced stage, the leaves deform and die. Shoots and pseudobulbs become crippled and fungal infections spread.
Fighting lice with natural means - Here's how
Once you have found the pests, please quarantine the affected orchid immediately. In the early stages of infestation, there are good prospects of combating the plague with natural means instead of resorting to chemical insecticides. These methods have proven themselves in practice:
- Wrap the roots in a plastic bag and shower the plant upside down with as strong a jet of water as possible
- Then wipe the leaves with a cloth soaked in alcohol
- Individual mealybugs, mealybugs and scale insects dab repeatedly with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol
On orchid species with strong leaves, the classic soft soap solution permanently removes all remaining lice. To do this, dissolve 15 grams of soft soap (€44.90) in 1 liter of water and add 1 tablespoon of spirit. Spray the upper and lower sides of the leaves with this mixture every 2 days until no more lice appear.
Insecticides containing neem help with high infestation pressure
If natural remedies don't achieve the success you hoped for, specialist shops have effective insecticides with natural ingredients ready for you. On thick-leaved orchids, such as Phalaenopsis or Dendrobium, destroy the lice with acaricide sprays. If in doubt, test the insecticide on a single leaf beforehand.
tips
A properly cared for orchid develops its own defenses against pests and diseases. One of the central criteria in care is a bright, not full sun location with pleasant room temperatures. Spray leaves and aerial roots with filtered rainwater daily. From spring to autumn add a special liquid fertilizer for orchids to the irrigation water.