What do I do if my orchid has mold?
If you do notice mold on your plant, it is harmless. One way to combat this is to make sure your orchid has enough air circulation. During the summer, you can simply open the windows for adequate air circulation. During the colder months, just turn a fan on low to circulate the air.
What does a diseased orchid look like?
The most common orchid diseases are: Bacterial Brown Spot begins as a soft, watery lesion, usually on the orchid’s leaf, that eventually turns brown. In advanced stages, the brown spot will begin to exude a foul-smelling dark liquid.
What is the white fuzzy stuff on my orchid?
The white fuzz that appears to be cotton inside the orchid potting medium can be either orchid mold, powdery mildew, or mealybugs. In time, these three components will prevent the growth of a healthy orchid and need to be treated immediately. Some orchids have hairs on their roots and these can be mistaken for fungus.
What is white mold?
White mold is a powdery fungus made up of different fungal species that can appear white, green, or grey, depending on the type of surface it has infected. Like most molds, white mold thrives in areas with high moisture like showers, crawl spaces, basements, and leaky walls.
How do you treat a sick orchid?
Treating orchid diseases of the roots requires removal of the plant from its medium and using a sterile knife to cut off infected material. Then use a fungicide to drench the roots and clean the growing area with a 10% bleach solution. If enough roots survived, the plant may regain its health.
How do I tell if my orchid is dying?
The telltale differences:
- 1) Crown and roots: If the crown–the part of the plant that connects the leaves and the roots–is brown and mushy (this can occur from too much water), the orchid is likely dead.
- 2) Yellow leaves: If only the bottom leaf is turning yellow, no need to worry.
What is my orchid telling me?
Root and Leaf Health Taking a look at your orchid’s roots is an easy way to tell how healthy it is. Healthy roots are a vibrant green. Grayish/white roots mean your orchid may need more water. Brown or mushy roots mean you likely have overwatered.
Why is my orchid mold?
Because water speeds up the decaying process, the presence of snow mold on your orchid is often a sign you’re over-watering your plant. Control snow mold by repotting your orchid in fresh potting media and water only when the soil begins to dry. Destroy the moldy potting media and replace it with a clean potting media.
How do you treat orchids with fungicides?
Using sterile clippers, remove infected leaves and dispose of them away from your plants. Spray infected plants with Captan Fungicide, Thiophanate Methyl or Mancozeb according to the manufacturer’s instruction. Be sure when spraying that the fungicide reaches into the leaf crevices to kill fungal spores.
How do you treat white fungus on orchids?
These little white creatures can infest your orchid, hatching and hiding in tiny nooks and crannies, leaving behind a sticky substance and chewing through your plant. Often horticultural oil or insecticidal soaps are recommended to treat a mealybug infestation, but if you don’t have any on hand, try isopropyl alcohol.