What to do and how to fight if midges are in the orchid
Orchids are beautiful, fragrant flowers that blend harmoniously into any garden. Unfortunately, their cultivation can be overshadowed by the attack of pests, among which harmless looking midges stand out. If the problem is not eliminated in time, all the work of growing the plant will be lost. Why midges started in your orchid and what to do with them, we will find out below.
The main reasons for the appearance
Beginner gardeners often do not understand where midges begin to appear in a flower bed or in an apartment. There are several reasons for the appearance of parasites, and they are quite common:
- midge larvae emerged from the soil in which the flower is grown;
- insects flew out from a nearby site or street, having chosen your flowerbed with orchids.
At first, such a neighborhood is not noticeable, but the midges quickly breed. If you don't exterminate them when they first appear, their numbers will grow into a huge swarm.
To note! Excessive watering of plants creates favorable conditions for the reproduction of pests.
Varieties
If you don't look closely, midges are very similar to each other. However, this is not so - there are a huge number of varieties of these insects that harm the flowers of the region in different ways. Among the most common parasites are isolated.
Mushroom midges
Midges get their name from the similarity to regular mosquitoes, which are miniature in size. The dimensions of an adult do not exceed 4-5 millimeters. Fungal mosquitoes lay their offspring in the soil, with which they most often travel to other uninfected areas. The plant is not damaged by adult insects, but by larvae, which damage the root system of the orchid, causing it to rot. Popularly, mushroom gnats are also known as sciarids.
Thrips
These insects, despite their small size, are extremely dangerous for orchids and cause irreparable harm to their health. This is because the thrips feed on the sap of the plant's leaves, severely damaging them by eating. The leaves occupied by insects quickly wither and the plant loses its strength and stops growing. At the first symptoms of thrips infestation, the flower should be isolated.
whiteflies
The tiny white-colored gnats are called whiteflies, and when they multiply in large numbers, they can cause considerable damage to the orchid. Insects reproduce with tremendous speed, and the offspring are not lying in the ground like everyone else, but they attach their claws to the back of the leaf. The main damage is to the leaves of the plant, and they get into the apartment through a window or into a pot with new seedlings.
fruit flies
The most harmless representatives of this type of insect, the appearance of which does not directly harm the flower. The appearance of fruit flies near the pot with an orchid signals excessive moisture in the soil and the process of decay that has begun there. Drosophila feeds on:
- leftover tea leaves;
- fruits and vegetables begin to rot;
- mousse.
Control methods
At the first symptoms of the appearance of harmful midges, you need to urgently begin to eliminate it. The main methods that show a strong positive effect are:
- replacement of the old affected soil with a new one;
- use of special chemicals;
- folk methods;
- sets various traps.
Each method has both strengths and weaknesses, which will be discussed below.
Replacement of affected soil
A simple and effective way to get rid of insects parasitizing a flower. It is recommended to store the new soil in the refrigerator for several days before replacing it. Low temperatures will kill pest larvae if present. It is also recommended to remove from the pot all the leaves that have fallen to the ground, since their rotting attracts insects from the outside to a healthy flower.
Medications
The most effective way to combat any pest, giving pests no chance. The only drawback due to which the use of chemicals is not welcomed by many gardeners is their toxicity.
If you are not confused by this nuance, then to fight insects, choose one of the following drugs presented below.
fitoverm
A reliable remedy for pests, with which it is allowed to fight such insects as:
- the caterpillars;
- thrips;
- aphid;
- sheet winders;
- ticks.
The drug is sold in plastic ampoules, one for each package.
Actellik
A drug that does not pose a danger to the cultivated plant, infecting insect pests by direct contact. Benefits :
- prevents the reappearance of pests;
- it is used in various fields of agricultural activity, for protection against insects and ticks;
- deadly to most known species of insect pests;
- at a nice price.
To note! The drug is not addictive in plants, however, the manufacturer recommends alternating its use with other drugs with a similar effect.
Fury
The drug is popular with ordinary summer residents and owners of large agricultural lands. This request is satisfied by:
- Possibilities of application to various agricultural crops, including garden plants.
- A wide range of parasites that Fury has a deadly effect on.
- Does not harm plants.
- It is consumed with care, a package of goods will last a long time.
- It tolerates high temperatures well.
Aktar
Fast-acting medicine that effectively combats most types of insect pests. Positive properties of Aktar include:
- Does not depend on weather conditions.
- Retains a protective effect long after treatment.
- If you follow the instructions for use, Aktar is not addictive to insects.
- The drug begins to work as soon as possible after treatment.
Defaults:
- deadly to beneficial insects such as wasps, bumblebees, bees and hornets;
- the finished solution quickly expires and becomes unsuitable for processing.
bazudin
Shows great effectiveness against pests that live in the soil next to the plant or lay their offspring there. Sold in powder form. Attacks pests in three directions:
- penetrate the outer shell of the insect on contact;
- when using the drug for food;
- translaminar.
Of the significant minuses, an unpleasant odor is emitted, which appears when the drug is dissolved in water.
Thunder-2
A drug based on the principle of intestinal contact action. It is sold ready to use, in special ampoules. Highlights of the drug:
- convenient to use;
- long exposure time;
- strong healing effect.
folk ways
For those who don't trust chemicals, folk recipes come to the rescue. They aren't as effective as store-bought chemicals, but they don't harm plants and the environment.
Many unique techniques have been invented fight against gnats, among which :
- soapy solution;
- garlic infusion;
- a mixture of olive and grape oil;
- potassium permanganate;
- river sand.
Let's take a closer look at these and other methods in more detail.
Soap solution
The simplest way, for the application of which you will be asked:
- prepare a soap solution by stirring a piece of laundry soap in warm water until it is completely dissolved;
- with the obtained product we wash the infected areas of the leaves;
- we repeat the procedure for several days.
Garlic tea
To prepare the infusion, grind 2-3 cloves of garlic, then soak them in spring water. Let the liquid steep for 6 hours, strain it, then spray the green part of the plant from a spray bottle. After a few days, the procedure is repeated, and so on until the parasites are completely eliminated.
Remedy with olive or grape oil
A solution based on olive oil is good against gnats.To prepare it, you will need:
- water - 500 milliliters;
- oil - 40 milliliters.
We mix the ingredients, after which we process the infected orchid with them.
Mustard
You can clean the soil in which the flower grows with a solution of mustard. Algorithm of actions:
- we take dry mustard powder;
- we raise it in hot water;
- pour the solution on the contaminated soil.
river sand
River sand helps dry out the soil, eliminating a comfortable environment for pests to breed. For that:
- do not water the plant for some time;
- pour sand on the ground;
- we treat with a weak solution of mustard.
potassium permanganate
Potassium permanganate perfectly kills larvae in the soil, especially if it can be properly dried before processing. Remember that the solution should not be strong, otherwise you will burn the delicate roots of the plant.
How to get rid of larvae
The larvae are eliminated by treating or replacing the soil. The land around the plant is cultivated with:
- chemical products;
- potassium permanganate solution;
- garlic tincture.
Velcro and traps
They show themselves well in the fight against whiteflies. The bright colors of the trap attract the attention of insects and the sticky surface prevents them from getting out of the trap.
frighten
Scaring away midges is carried out with the help of sharp, unpleasant odors for insects, including:
- citrus aroma;
- the smell of garlic;
- the smell of lavender.
Preventative measures
As preventive measures to avoid the appearance of midges, use:
- Clean the ground around the flower of fallen leaves and other biological debris.
- Do not overwet the soil around the orchid.
- Do not use tea leaves as plant nutrition.
- Loosen the soil around the plant periodically.