Hi everyone,
Mealybugs are the most mentioned pest that I hear about. Having dealt with them, our efforts may have been effective removing all that were present. Finding them again could be new ones that have found their way to our orchids. Mealybugs ar always 'cruisin' looking for a scrumptious orchid! We can help prevent them from stopping at our orchids. However the best way is to stay vigilant and check our orchids often. When first noticed, it is best to deal with them right then and there. Call in to work that the 'kids' are sick. Cancel your appointments and take care of it now. :~) They multiply very quickly.
Not to scare anyone but there is a vital secondary reason to be proactive. Mealybugs very easily transfer virus from one orchid to another. If a bug 'bites' one orchid having a virus, the next is almost assuredly infected. There is no cure for a virus and an infected plant should be discarded or kept entirely separate from other plants. Viruses are another topic that are probably discussed in another thread.
Whatever method we use, the goal is to remove active mealybugs that we can see, stop those we don't see, catch any eggs as they hatch and treat the growing area.
What works for me is to spray the orchid where it is sitting. Moving it first may drop mealybugs along the way to where I want to work on the plant. I can place, pour, dab or spray alcohol, a soap solution, an oil or a chemical product. All of these basically suffocate the bug on contact. If you see them on the foliage, most likely they are in the media and roots. Spraying the foliage only is half the battle. I then take the orchid to where I can soak it. I use 'total immersion'. This can be enough of any of the above solutions to cover the entire plant in a bucket. Sometimes a large orchid goes in head first and then the other half second. I place the pot, media and orchid in the bucket soaking everything for at least a few minutes making sure it is saturated. Taking the potted or other mounted orchid out, I discard that solution and don't reuse it on another orchid. It might transfer bugs or virus as well! The most effective way to eradicate the mealybugs is to repot the orchid. However just soaking MAY be effective. Avoid repotting if the orchid is one that does not tolerate repotting. Spray the roots and plant with as much water flow as the plant will tolerate washing away the bugs. Be more gentle with new growths. You can also use a toothbrush or other tool to remove visible bugs. Rinse thoroughly. This 'squeaky clean' orchid can be repotted in fresh media. If you are considering changing the media be careful that it is the right time for the orchid, i.e. new roots in order to pot it into semi hydro. It is important to spray or pour through soaking that plant again in 7 days watching for any re-emergence perhaps from eggs. We also have to closely inspect any adjacent orchids or other plants. We need to spray the area where the orchid sits, bench, floor, walls, ceiling. Then I treat the orchids and media with a preventative containing a systemic such as Imidacloprid (found in Bayer and other products) but only twice per year.
I don't pretend to win against pests. They are just doing what comes naturally. If all goes well when the first mealybug sucks a drink of my orchid's fluids with a shot of Imidacloprid, it dies or goes away. << applause >> If not, I'll throw a 'pool party' for them in the bucket.
Lee
lee at classicorchid com
www classicorchidtours com
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