Boosting the immune system

[marydaniellesantos]

Originally Posted by Izzie

okay, had a "wth" moment when I opened that link.
Antioxidant tooth powder...for...orchids? Kind of had to do a double-take. In the Garden section now.

Okay, so I see exactly what you meant about the link...

[Connie Star]

Gosh I hate to be pedantic here, but although plants have defenses, they don't actually have immune systems, in the sense of organs or cells specifically devoted to fighting disease.
That said I believe in whatever works!

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Gosh I hate to be pedantic here, but although plants have defenses, they don't actually have immune systems, in the sense of organs or cells specifically devoted to fighting disease.
That said I believe in whatever works!

Completely right, they don't have immune systems, and you can't boost their defenses in the way that we boost animal defenses.

Good culture, cleanliness and good growth will 'boost' them, only because the plants are strong and healthy enough to respond immediately to a recognized attacker. A plant can't grow and defend at the same time, they do one or the other. So if a plant is growing in poor conditions, it will be devoting its energy to struggle to grow, rather than defend itself. If an attacker comes along, by the time the plant redirects its energy to defense, it's too late.

The beneficial bacteria (and fungi) mentioned don't boost plant immune systems, instead it's just a matter of them killing/eating the bad guys before they can get to the plant. The plant isn't actually doing much.

A plant can't recognize new attackers and remember them later like our immune systems can. They're 'born' recognizing a certain set of attacker proteins, and will not learn new ones. If the plant doesn't have the receptors to recognize a strain of disease, then there's nothing much you can do except prevention.

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by peeweelovesbooks

The thought really boggles the mind. I mean.........have your orchids been naughty?

Well.....

[Izzie]

I love science....

Connie- I know they don't have an immune system like we do, it just seemed like the best analogy.

You and Camille said it best.

[Izzie]

I could have said..."what's the best way to ward off evil from my plants?"

Or..."do orchid voodoo dolls really work?"

Or, "can anybody recommend a good horticultural exorcist?"

[Izzie]

Originally Posted by marydaniellesantos

Okay, so I see exactly what you meant about the link...

Glad I'm not the only one.

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Izzie

I could have said..."what's the best way to ward off evil from my plants?"

Or..."do orchid voodoo dolls really work?"

Or, "can anybody recommend a good horticultural exorcist?"

[kavanaru]

aspirin!! it is similar to some compound produced by plants when they are attacked by fungis/insects and goe sin the air. It is catched by other plants, which immediately start to produce defense chemicals... ok, this is very widely explained, but basically that's the rational behind..

check these threads:
http://www.orchidboard.com/community...g-article.html
Aspirin Spray

indeed, plants do not have an inmune system as animals do. However, they do have defense mechanisms based on chemical products (secondary metabolites, phytochemicals, and natural products are some ofthe names given to them). It has been observed that they can be used to "communicate" and once a plant or tissue is attacked, a compound is produced and other plants or tissues start metabolizing defense compounds...

[Izzie]

Ramon- sounds like you're on the same line of thinking that says to add hydrogen peroxide to your plant water.