Scale insects use their highly developed sucking and stinging apparatus to extract the plant sap from the leaves of an orchid. The 0.5 to 5 mm small females are masters of camouflage, because they hide themselves and their brood under a protective shield. You can read here how you can still get rid of the pests.

Scale insects are effectively driven away with a solution of soft soap, spirit and water

Symptoms at a glance - This is how you can spot scale insects

Although scientists distinguish scale insects according to more than 4,000 species worldwide, the signs of an infestation are similar. This applies equally to scale insects and scale insects, as well as mealybugs and mealybugs. If the following symptoms appear on an orchid, you are dealing with scale insects:

  • In the early stages, tiny brown or green bumps appear on the undersides of the leaves and in the leaf axils
  • White webs form when it comes to the subspecies of mealybugs and mealybugs
  • Leaves, buds and flowers cripple
  • The foliage is covered with brown-yellow to reddish spots

Due to an explosion of scale insects, the orchid slowly dies, shedding the buds and flowers first, followed by all the leaves.

Every scale insect dreads these ecological means

If the leaves have already dropped as a result of scale insects, even high-quality chemical insecticides are rarely successful in combating them. On the other hand, if you find the lice in the early stages, you can save the affected orchid with these natural remedies:

  • Rub the leaves with an alcohol-soaked cloth
  • Dip cotton swabs in alcohol and dab on individual scale insects
  • Prepare a solution from 15 grams of soft soap (44.90€), 15 milliliters of spirit and 1 liter of water
  • So spray the affected orchid every 2 days

Only high-proof alcohol can penetrate the waxy shield of scale insects and scale insects. Mealybugs and mealybugs, which are attributed to scale insects, can also be treated with a broth made from tansy leaves or wormwood. You can also achieve good results with diatomaceous earth, since the powder from sedimentary rock dries out the insects.

tips

The scale insects often find their way into a lovingly cared for orchid collection via a new purchase. Therefore, subject each orchid to a thorough check for pest infestation in the shop. Experienced hobby gardeners therefore always have a magnifying glass at hand when they go on an orchid shopping tour.

Category:

Indoor plants