Best fungicide for orchid care kit?
 

Hello,

Now that I have a few orchids to fuss about, I would like to put together a "kit" with remedies for general care, diseases, pests, etc. I was wondering what fungicide comes most recommended?

Also, any further suggestions for this kit are welcome.

Thanks,
Natalie

I would suggest you not have any fungicides in the house. Spend the money on a fan for better air circulation around your plants.

You really don't need fungicides. If you have them around you will be tempted to use them when they aren't appropriate. They are highly toxic chemicals to you, your family and your pets. There are people who won't eat the snacks at our orchid society meetings because they're not organic, but they spray their plants with chemicals all the time.

Most people don't have problems with fungi on their plants. Many problems that people think are due to fungus are old leaves dying, natural pigmentation of plants, sunburn, old insect damage, damage from salts in water, too high or low temperatures or humidity, old spider mite damage or something else.

True fungus attack is usually due to poor growing conditions or practices.

An exception is someplace hot and swampy like southern Florida or New Orleans, or growers who keep tightly sealed greenhouses to save money on heating costs. I know growers in these places; they grow a lot of plants not accustomed to such high humidity, and unless they use preventive fungicides in rotation they will lose a lot of plants. But most of the world outside the hot and wet tropics aren't in this situation.

The best way to prevent fungus is to provide proper air circulation, air at the roots, temperatures, humidity and light. Most orchids do very well with a maximum relative humidity of 50%-70%; those that need higher humidity are more resistant to fungus attacks. Fungus attack is promoted by anything that stresses the plant - excessively high temperatures, especially at night; higher humidity than the plant needs; too little light.

Every plant container holds an ecosystem of micro-organisms that keep each other in balance. Fungi pathogenic to plants are often held in check by other fungi and bacteria. If you use a fungicide to kill the beneficial fungi the pathogens can run amok. Plus, with repeat use, pathogenic fungi become resistant to fungicides, and they may not be effective when you truly need them. Regularly spraying plants with disinfectants like Physan is similar in effect. It is no substitute for good growing.

The exact same thing has happened with bacteria and antibiotics. We have so overused antibiotics we have selected out extremely resistant organisms like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multiply resistant Enterococcus and extremely-drug-resistant tuberculosis.

No one fungicide kills all fungi; most fungi are immune to one or more fungicides. So before using a chemical you must know what the fungus is, know it is actually causing the problem and not just living there peaceably, and know the chemical you plan to use kills that fungus. Not many hobbyist growers are that careful. The shotgun approach kills beneficial organisms and, I think, causes even more harm.

When I restarted growing orchids about 5 years ago after a 35 year hiatus, I bought a lot of expensive fungicides in anticipation. I haven't used a fungicide once since then. I do have lower humidity in my house than many people, but my growing space compares to a lot of people's outdoor growing areas in summer-rainy temperate climates. I have a fan blowing on my plants at all times.

As for insects... isopropyl alcohol 70% or liquid dish soap 1 Tbs/15ml in a quart/liter of water sprayed on will control most pests. If you wind up with scale or mealybugs you can't control this way it may be time for a systemic insecticide, but remember they are nerve poisons.

That is very good advice, thank you. I agree with you with having the correct conditions as the first action against anything happening. While I like to think my plants are happy in the terrarium conditions, one never knows what can happen. It is more about being prepared if a fast spreading bacterial rot hits. It can wipe out collections in a short span of time. Of course, I would try to not use a toxic chemical, unless it is a last resort. I don't like using chemicals since I have animals at home.

But heck, even some organic or natural means of saving an orchid doesn't help. I had some bugs and in trying to eradicate the problem, I accidentally drowned the orchid.

I am still very much learning. I think at least knowing i *have* something to act quickly if I have to, would make me stress less. Like having a first aid kit, no one plans to use it, but it is an ease that it's there.

I should have added to the first post... regularly treating with mycorrhizal supplements may prevent growth of pathogenic fungi. When unflasking seedlings I do not use fungicide. I use mycorrhizal treatments.

How do you use mycorrhizal supplements on more mature orchids, especially mounted?

Dip the mount in a prepared solution. Or put into a spray bottle. I have a fair amount of Inocucor in the fridge. I got it from First Rays. I think I saw a newsletter from Ray a while back saying Inocucor is off the market but he sells something equivalent.

If the mount rarely dries out the organisms should remain alive and growing.