Kinds of Orchid Pests

Aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, mites, millipedes, centipedes, slugs, snails, and whiteflies are all common pests that infest orchids. The specific pests you have to worry about depend on the climate you are in.

Aphids survive by sucking off phloem fluid from the plant. They bite into the plant, which causes the tissue to die, turn yellow, and decay.

Mealybugs feed or orchids directly. They are either white or pink, and must be dealt with as soon as they are discovered. They are tough to control, and are a major problem.

Scale insects look like white scales. After feeding on the orchid, they become larger. The male scale insects have wings, but do not look scaly.

Mites are also a potential problem. Spider mites are the most common. They are tiny mites that create tiny little webs on your plant. You may not see the mites, but you will see the web.

You must also watch out for millipedes and centipedes with . They will directly eat the roots of the plants. In addition to harming the orchid, they can sting you.

Slugs and snails both eat orchids and destroy them. They are common pests for orchids.

Along with aphids and spider mites, whiteflies are one of the top three most irritating orchids pests.

Getting Rid of Orchid Pests

Of course it is not good when you notice pests on your orchid plants, but if you take action quickly, the plant will be ok. There are plenty of ways to control pests naturally. One way is to use nature's natural pest killers--natural enemies of the pests. This way, you will be able to avoid using any pesticides, keeping chemicals away from you and your plants. You can also clean pests off with your hands. You can also use netting or barriers to keep pests from getting to the plants.

If these natural methods aren't enough, pesticides are an option. You should use a pesticide that is as natural and environmentally friendly as possible. Chemicals aren't good, so they should be used sparingly.

To summarize, to keep your orchids healthy, you need to watch out for common pests. If you find any pests, you need to act quickly to get rid of them through natural methods. If that doesn't work, you can resort to pesticides.