Bites - Orchid Board

Gil · #1 07-30-2018, 10:59 AM

Been keeping the orchids outdoors and checking them pretty frequently for bugs. I found these bite marks last evening on this novelty and not sure if it's a regular orchid pest or an outdoor bug that decided to give this a taste. I checked the other orchids throughly and there are no other bite marks on any of them. I did see a small grasshopper on them a couple of days ago and there is an occasional large ant or two on the deck where the the plant bench is.
This novelty phal has probably the most tender/delicate leaves of the bunch.
I currently do not have any preventative insecticides on the plants. The potting mix the plant is in is about 2-3 weeks old consisting mainly of fir bark for good drainage for rainfall.

aliceinwl · #2 07-31-2018, 12:50 AM

Tough to say. I had a random caterpillar find one of mine outside and start munching. I’ve had luck identifying some of the culprits by checking the plants with a flashlight at night. Whenever possible, I try to either manually remove persistent pests or relocate the orchid to make it less accessible, but I don’t really mind a few nibbles.

Ray · #3 07-31-2018, 09:22 AM

NO PREVENTIVE TREATMENT OF INSECTICIDES!!! That is how resistant strains are developed.

If anything, use a barrier, whether that be mechanical, like a screen enclosure, or chemical like Hot Pepper Wax or a homemade equivalent.

I place cheap tiki torches around my plants, filled with a homemade insect repellent, consisting of 1 ml each essential oils of peppermint, lavender, citronella and eucalyptus in a quart of isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

As my plants are on my deck, the "air wicks" keep mosquitoes and gnats away from us, too.

Just don't let a "helpful" guest light the torches!

Gil · #4 07-31-2018, 10:15 AM

Thanks for the info. I really don't want to use any pesticides if I can help it. Being outdoors and in the woods like I am no telling what little hungry bug will come along. The caterpillars have hatched right now so I'll just be vigilant and do the nightly checks. Thankfully the plants are on a deck 25 ft off the ground or else the deer, woodchucks and rabbits would have had them eaten by now like my wife's hostas, a yearly event.

I did put some citronella, lemon grass and other essential oils on the wooden orchid plant stand and that seems to keep bugs away until the rain washes it off.

Roberta · #5 08-01-2018, 09:11 PM

How recently was that particular plant potted? Bush snails (teensy little snails) tend to hide in the medium, may exist as eggs for a long time before emerging. Catching them in the act is difficult, they hide during the day. But being little, they can't take big bites - they tend to take the surface tissue of leaves. They are hard to eliminate - because they live in damp medium, even snail baits (which partially work by dessication) don't work very well, If this plant hasn't been repotted recently, repot after cleaning off as much of the old medium as you can without destroying roots.

Gil · #6 08-01-2018, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberta

How recently was that particular plant potted? Bush snails (teensy little snails) tend to hide in the medium, may exist as eggs for a long time before emerging. Catching them in the act is difficult, they hide during the day. But being little, they can't take big bites - they tend to take the surface tissue of leaves. They are hard to eliminate - because they live in damp medium, even snail baits (which partially work by dessication) don't work very well, If this plant hasn't been repotted recently, repot after cleaning off as much of the old medium as you can without destroying roots.

That plant was just re-potted, say two weeks ago at most. There are the larger snails here but have never seen slime trails on the deck which is about 25 to 30 ft. off the ground.
I have been keeping an eye on things and yesterday I found a third to half of an inch light gray weevil looking bug on top of a leaf of another Phal. Not saying it was a weevil just an odd bug that I never saw here on any plant including veggies. It slipped off the leaf when I lifted the plant and went through the crack between the boards on the deck so I didn't get a picture. Looked on line at bug pictures and didn't find it.
For all I know that bug was harmless, but...

Roberta · #7 08-01-2018, 10:11 PM

If recently repotted probably not bush snails. But those don't leave slime trails. They are tiny - like a few millimeters, typically.

Pamhanson · #8 08-02-2018, 03:07 AM

I just love orchid flowers ever since one of my special one gifted me the set of flowers on my birthday. I would also like to plant orchid at home but, the fear of loosing them because of ticks and bugs I always drop my idea. Yes, they are Bugs, they may damage plants by chewing on the roots and leaves of seedlings. Before few days in my house garden, I found springtails were damaging all plants by chewing them and was just harming to seeds. Then without wasting any time I suddenly called a pest exterminator to exterminate the species. Ever since the exterminator spread pest I didn't face any problem regarding such species.