Ferns and orchids

[dounoharm]

i love orchids, and I love ferns! the problem arises when the fern makes 'spores', those black spots on the back of fern fronds....the spores ripen and explode, throwing the fern seed quite far! when the seed takes root in the orchid pot and starts growing, the roots of the fern seeks soft bark or bark that is in the process of breaking down, to spread their new roots....the fern roots break down the potting media in the orchid pot. this is what damages the orchid. you really need to get that fern out of the pot and repot your orchid! you can use the discarded media to pot the fern if you like....but NEVER allow ferns, or any other plant, to make a permanent home in your orchid pot!

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

Thanks for the advice. I will get rid of the fern. I may try roundup since I don't think I'll report this orchid yet.

The best way to kill it with Roundup is to apply the Roundup using a cotton pad. Brush it on the entire visible part of the fern, being careful to not get any on the orchid. This will kill both the fronds and the roots/rhizome. Still, I'd advise repotting once the plant is ready.

[Ray]

In one of my many visits to the former Kensington Orchids (I grew up near there, and went to college in Atlanta with one of Merritt's sons), I grabbed a piece of a "rabbits foot" fern from under a bench in one of the greenhouses. Holy cow! What a mistake that was.

Lord knows how many years later, when I had the GH foundation excavated before selling my home in PA, there were still seedlings that had sprouted from the zillions of spores they released.

[bil]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

The best way to kill it with Roundup is to apply the Roundup using a cotton pad. Brush it on the entire visible part of the fern, being careful to not get any on the orchid. This will kill both the fronds and the roots/rhizome. Still, I'd advise repotting once the plant is ready.

Doesn't need to be on every leaf. Roundup is systemic.

If you can, get a generic weedkiller that is Glyphosate based. Here I can buy 5 litres of generic for much less than 1 litre of Roundup.

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by bil

Doesn't need to be on every leaf. Roundup is systemic.

If you can, get a generic weedkiller that is Glyphosate based. Here I can buy 5 litres of generic for much less than 1 litre of Roundup.

When I've used it I like to hit every leaf just because I'm a bit OCD about things. But yes, it's a systemic, which is why the roots are killed. Also, it can't travel through your potting medium and affect the orchid, so don't worry about that. When I have used it in this manner I dilute it to about 1/3 of the original strength.

[bil]

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

When I've used it I like to hit every leaf just because I'm a bit OCD about things. But yes, it's a systemic, which is why the roots are killed. Also, it can't travel through your potting medium and affect the orchid, so don't worry about that. When I have used it in this manner I dilute it to about 1/3 of the original strength.

Well, I use it full strength. When we lived in the UK, we had a garden that was about an acre and a half which was thoroughly infested with ground elder, an invasive pest.

After two years there was not a single bit of it left. I just hit it and hit it and hit it. We even had some knotweed and that basically didn't like what I did.
You cut all the canes down, just below a node, and then you fill all the canes with raw glyphosate.

He he he he. That sucker just curled up and died.

[rbarata]

But be aware that a single drop on the orchid can cause serious damage, or even worse, you may lose it. That's why jkofferdahl advised you to use a cotton pad.

I have a Stan with the same problem and decided not to use Roundup because the fern is leaning on the orchid.

[Roberta]

The reason that one can get away with treating things like ferns and grass with Roundup without killing the orchid is that the herbicide has more effect on things that grow fast than the slow-growing orchid. So in moderation, it works. It certainly can harm the orchids if used too much and not "surgically". Personally, I prefer to deal with the weeds by pulling them out and repotting when I can.

[dounoharm]

I cant imagine putting roundup anywhere near my orchids, lol.....hot vinegar, maybe....on the floor of the greenhouse....but really now, we are talking about one plant in a house?

REPOT and done, lol....or simply yank it out! doubtless you will find a bunch of degraded media and end up repotting anyway.....

just be careful if you are using roundup in the house....good luck!

[Jeff214]

hmm... I'll check out the big box stores for any glyphosates. If I find a small, cheap bottle, I'll give it a try.

I'm a bit reluctant to repot this particular orchid... the last time I repotted the den spectabile (and a psycopsis), it sulked for a year without much growth. It finally started to pick up growth recently.