Strengthen the immune system in our plants

[thefish1337]

Originally Posted by KatieM

How often would you apply the Beauveria bassiana when first getting started and how many times? How often do you apply a maintenance dose after established? Great info!

There isn't a lot of research on Beuveria bassiana and orchids specifically. It acts as both a slow contact mycoinsecticide on certain insects but also can become endophytic- most of the products are focused on the former but the latter does happen. Younger plants are easier to inoculate than older ones. I have been applying weekly for a month during fall when I bring in my patio houseplants and then at the end of winter when dry conditions and mediocre temperatures tend to promote spider mites and scale. I still get some pests with this stuff but they never seem to get a foothold.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Jmoney

on a related vein, does anyone has any experience with the dynagro product Protekt? It is claimed it strengthens cell walls, presumably improving disease/pest resistance.

I suppose the only "evidence" might be anecdotal at best, just wondering if anyone has seen any effect.

Back when I used and resold Dyna-Gro products, then threw RO water into the mix, the pH plummeted, so I used ProteKt
to offset it. I saw no benefit beyond that.

With the exception of some paddy plants like rice, silicon is not a significant requirement, nor does it add anything appreciable to plants that don’t require it. I would say that a fast-growing plant might show some improvement, but I doubt it in orchids.

As to the microbial products, they work. It’s not as obvious or astounding an improvement compared to treat,Mets, but it definitely beefs them up are reduces all sorts of environmental stresses.

Although not sold that way for legal purposes, the probiotics are also curative, but again, it is more obvious in faster-growing plants.

[Jmoney]

Thanks Ray, will look into the microbials. Always looking to improve things!

[alecStewart1]

Hate to bust in here as a newbie to this forum and orchids, but with my carnivorous plants, aroids and such one the thing I find is to keep things around the plants clean.

The three big things I do are wiping off shelves or space around the plants with hydrogen peroxide, cleaning out water trays and the outsides of pots every so often.

Everything else is fine: proper light, humidity, not over watering and airflow. The bottom shelf where my Nepenthes are in my cabinet will get to 90-95% RH at night, and I don't have any issues with mold/fungus on any of the plants down there.

I'm starting to realize more and more that "if it's not broke, don't fix it" applies a lot to plants. Granted you may have to do a few "extra" things like taking care of pests, repotting, making sure they don't freeze or scorch to death, or in my case with the carnivores is feeding them every so often, but after that it's mainly just being patient and letting them do their thing.

[escualida]

Originally Posted by Ray

As to the microbial products, they work. It’s not as obvious or astounding an improvement compared to treat,Mets, but it definitely beefs them up are reduces all sorts of environmental stresses.

Although not sold that way for legal purposes, the probiotics are also curative, but again, it is more obvious in faster-growing plants.

Are you referring to a product like Quantum? I recently bought this at your store and just started using it on my orchids along with Kelpak.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by escualida

Are you referring to a product like Quantum? I recently bought this at your store and just started using it on my orchids along with Kelpak.

Yes.

I have found that regular use of Kelpak and Quantum, in addition to routine feeding, have been a real boon to the growth and flowering of my collection.

[HantsomeOrchids]

plants dont really have immune systems. they mostly use a mixture of local wound sealing and systemic poisons. the prior needs good culture + removing the source of the issue, the latter is genetics. but breeders are unlikely to select for hardiness much. consider tomato cultivars: some get obliterated by blight, some totally ignore it.

[MateoinLosAngeles]

I would say that plants' immune systems are akin to a human's: we need a healthy and balance diet, a supportive environment, some sunlight exposure (yes we actually, biologically, do), and to keep stressors under control.

So for plants:

- Water quality: RO or rain water.

- Feeding that includes micronutrients.

- Consistency: water frequently and feed weakly. I think most plants benefit from this, not only orchids. It's all about having the right pot/media combination.

- Light... give'em the light they need.

- Appropriate pot environment: orchids respond really well to bark, some lithophytes really take off in calcareous mixes, some (like Zygos) really appreciate acidic mixes.

- Appropiate air movement: to me, this is crucial. I open my windows first thing in the morning (get fresh air in as opposed to recycled one) and have my fans automated. I swear by increasing air movement. Also, remember plants consume CO2, not O2. We are two humans and 100+ plants in an apartment, so I really think opening those windows is important to get more CO2 in.<< this last part about CO2 was pointed out as an error, which makes sense! So disregard.

- Seasonal adjustments: feed more in spring and fall, less in winter and summer. Reducing feeding in summer reduces summer rots. I have been surprised with the number of Cattleyas that push strong fall growth when given a summer rest.

- And yes, supplements... I use them all, and they work. Kelpak, Bacillus subtilis, Mycorrhizae... But it's like people, I do better when I take a Magnesium, Omega 3, and Vitamin B supplement but they are not infallible at keeping me from getting sick when I undergo stress or overwork. It's also worth noting that many of these don't actually affect the plant's immune system directly, but rather, they improve the efficiency of the plant's metabolic function helping them maintain their strength when combating disease.

[HantsomeOrchids]

Humans have a built in laboratory system that allows us to analyse pathogens and on the spot manufacture brand new specific poisons called antibodies. Plants dont have that and if they catch a disease their only means of defense is to seal it off and drop the infected bit, akin to us amputating a limb.

Plant diseases have only 2 real vectors: Spores and Insects. Indoors only generic fungi like mildew are likely to have spores around but aphids and so on that wander in from outside can carry viruses. "Rot" however is more of an opportunistic disease like MRSA that lives everywhere, but if plant cells die or they get a wound, the harmless bacteria can suddenly become harmful. What we call root rot is not a disease really but rather roots dying due to hypoxia, fertiliser burn or otherwise, then being decomposed. Thats where all the psmpering and care comes in!

In terms of co2, opening the window will lower the number not increase it: Indoors can get up to 1500+ ppm quite easily from a single person. Plants also do need oxygen, especially their roots, but neither of these are really a concern in human living conditions (you will start to get a headache when co2 levels get too high, which plants dont like either). Ventilation is more important to make the condituons for fungi less favourable, and that does go for our own health too, but itll also typically reduce the humidity.

[DirtyCoconuts]

grow outside.

i know, not really helpful, but the reality of creating artificial environments indoors where we have already made an artificial environment lends to too much possibility for OTHER things to grow. outside, they are kept in balance by the other biological factors present.

i have never used a fungicide for anything - i have lost food plants to some things that seemed possibly fungal but i would not use a fungicide on a food plant anyways