Pest Magnets - Orchid Board

nemesis · #1 08-02-2022, 04:57 PM

Hi All...I was wondering why some orchids seem to be pest magnets, while others remain relatively pest free.
Tia, Kelly

Dimples · #2 08-02-2022, 05:08 PM

Many reasons. Genetics, adaptive/defensive mechanisms, health status, plant form, pest preferences, environmental conditions, location, the reasons are somewhat endless.

Are you asking in regards to anything specific?

nemesis · #3 08-02-2022, 05:11 PM

No....I was watching an orchid video and all this person’s Cattleyas seem to have scale. I have done a round of thrips, but never really had any real bug problems. Curious...that is all.

Roberta · #4 08-02-2022, 07:39 PM

Pests to seem to have "favorites" although they can infect other things as well. Catts do tend to get scale easlily - but it seems to attack weaker plants more easily, creating a vicious circle. Mealy bugs tend to like Phals, though I have seem them attack Paphs too. Spider mites can attack anything but especially can do a number on on soft-leaved plants like Casetinae (warm and dry conditions encourage them)

estación seca · #5 08-02-2022, 09:59 PM

Scale and mealybugs once established require a lot of work to eradicate. If you find either take care of the problem right away.

WaterWitchin · #6 08-03-2022, 09:24 AM

Never say never... I've NEVER had spider mites. EVER. Two years ago decided to try growing Catasetum. All of a sudden this year, a spider mite infestation on all five. Having a party, live band, lots of snacks and beverages.

And having never experienced them before, it took me quite a while to figure out why the leaves were looking so funny. Duh.

Catasetum being a spider mite magnet... it's my new reality. UGH.

tmoney · #7 08-09-2022, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Never say never... I've NEVER had spider mites. EVER. Two years ago decided to try growing Catasetum. All of a sudden this year, a spider mite infestation on all five. Having a party, live band, lots of snacks and beverages.

And having never experienced them before, it took me quite a while to figure out why the leaves were looking so funny. Duh.

Catasetum being a spider mite magnet... it's my new reality. UGH.

same, we have 2 fdk after darks and we have a special place for them specifically because they just get mites from somewhere. almost like they make the mites themselves. interstingly, one of our plants gets hundreds of bites on the leaves, while its sibling, sitting directly next to it all year, only gets a couple. so obviouly there is some genetic component that makes the mites prefer one over the other, that is the only hypothesis i have right now. buuuuut, it's important to isolate them because having a mite outbreak on a phal is a real pita. we are becoming mite experts since we have started growing orchids