NEMATODES

[swiatoniowski]

Thanks for info about fungus, I will try to find something like this here in Poland. As yet I always use chemical products, so I don't know too much about biological ones. Poland is certainly not the best place for any shopping.

My Phragmipediums grew in pure seramis, but I realized, that it is not good. So about two months ago I repoted them into more traditional mix with addition of peat. They started to grow much better after a few weeks. But in the meantime I realized, that with this peat (even sterilized !) I add nematodes...
But perhaps, they are simply harmfull. I could repot plants and check roots, but I know that this will slow down growth for many weeks. The problem is, that such humid medium is realy full of this nematodes.

Could you tell me what medium you use in your 40 years practise ? I mean, for P.schlimii, P.besseae and P.kovachii (well, some of them are quite new)

I will read more about good nematodes. But I don't think, that drying can be a method for killing bad nematodes. I am quite sure, they have very persistant eggs. On the other hand, I cannot dry Phragmipediums.

Piotr

[glengary54]

Over the years I have used many different mixes for my Phrags, sphagnum moss w/sponge rock, various bark based mixes, rock wool, I have even grown them in semi-hydroponics.

The one way to know for sure if what you have are actually nematodes is to look at the roots to see if they are deformed by galls (enlarged swollen areas) that nematodes cause.

[Paul Mc]

WOW, interesting. I will have to keep this in mind. Thanks glengary!

[orchidsamore]

My first guess is that you are confusing whatever you have with nematodes. Bad nematodes attack roots and that is the only way you know they are there. usually they eat the root to where the plant falls over with no roots.

There are good nematodes and for some reason bad nematodes can not exist in the same soil as beneficial ones. It is the recommended treatment for bad nematodes by the Florida Department of Agriculture for controlling nematodes.

Every box of plants shipped int he US has a nematode (free) certificate stamped on the box.

I use worm products to control nematodes in the US. Both worm vermi-liquid from the skin of the worm and worm compose contains a lot of beneficial nematodes and controls the bad ones.

Here is a homemade remedy you can make that works extremely well on all insects. It is safe for all plants. It should cure whatever you have.

10 drops dish soap
1.8 ml cinnamon extract (about 1/2 tsp.)
2 cups tepid water

Cinnamon extract is usually available in health food stores. The liquid extract works much better than the powder which does not dissolve.

Make enough to submerge the pot and you will see insects come floating out of the medium. You will not see the nematodes but they will be killed as well.

[RobS]

Although there are macroscopic nematodes I'm rather sure they are the larvae of Sciaridae - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Best solution is to repot and remove all dead roots old medium that you can. There is some ways to controll them but I'm not sure what is available in Poland if you have a garden center nearby you might ask them.

[camille1585]

I'm thinking like RobS. Most nematodes that attack plants are microscopic and pretty much impossible to see with the naked eye, except for the larger species. I can tell you this from having done some research with them. Sciarids are much more likely to be what you are seeing. They have whitish transparent bodies with a black head. And if you remember seeing some little black gnats flying around lately, well there's your culprit.

[cscarfo]

Hi,
I don't know if this can help you, but here is a link
Eliminating terrarium pests - Orchid Board
to a interesting post. May be it also works for nematodes and insects. You can try it out putting some plants in a bucket and see the results. I want to try it against mites.
Hope it helps.

Carlo

[glengary54]

Just read Marty's post on dry ice and insects, brillant, can't wait to dry it.