Orchid Clinic

Expectations :

Pots : Why?
A. For holding and root anchorage)
B. For convenience and easily available

Types :

1. Clay pots (with or without holes)
2. Plastic (with and without holes) esp. for growing Catacetum and Liparis.
3. Wooden basket esp for Cymbidium and Den. scendum.
4. Broken pots (for plants that need lots of water and aerial roots).
5. Without pots.- most orchids do not need pots. Terrestrial and ground orchids only grow in pots.

Advantages :

a.Looks natural.
b.Prevents rots and other disease problems.
c.Save space and can grow more.
d.Plants and flowers more visible.

Tree barks
Fern tree slabs
Wooden plank (for Phalaenopsis)
Clay roof tile (for Oncidium)
Coconut husk (peel off the smooth hard skin before use)

Watering :

Watch the weather when watering. Watering is very important in growing orchids.

Better to under-watering (may cause plants to wilt but will not die) than over- watering (may kill the plants).

Best time to do watering is around 10:30 am and 4:30 pm.

When using tap water, allow the water to settle overnight in the tank
before use (to reduce chlorine damage).

Fertilizing :

Common fertilizers:

1.Liquid type.
For flowering (Red)
For growing (Green)

Spray to the leaves and other parts.
Too much fertilizer will burn the roots.
Allow 4-hours of absorbtion time.

2.Manure

Good for Phalaenopsis (high NO3)
Do not place directly to plants.
Use manure containers.

Pests and Diseases

During watering can easily invite bacteria and fungus to infect the plants. Reduce watering frequency during rainy weather.

You cannot totally avoid pests and pathogens.

Spider Mite :
Stay on underside of leaves (avoid wetness). Wet underside of leaves.
When we don’t water the plants during rainy season
Mites start to breed.
Population of mites explodes in hot, dry and protected environment.
Mites won’t kill the plants but weaken them if left
unchecked.

Use miticides – Mitex, Omite (kills eggs)

Yellow Beetle :
Attacks buds and flowers.
Apply common insecticides to control them.

Thrip :
Can cause floral deformation. Apply Ametochlopride 18%.
Mealy Fly (White Fly)
Scale Insect

Bacterial Rot :
Fast growing esp on Phalaenopsis.
Cut out diseased (infected) site or portion quickly.

Cymbidium Mosaic Virus :
No cure
Use disease-free plantlets
Sterilize tools every time before use.

Leaf-Tip Rot :
Cut off diseased section.

Rhizoctonia Collar Rot :
Cut off diseased stem.
Apply Benzicuran 2-3%

Thai Disease :
Esp. on Vandaceous orchids, severe on strap-leaf.
Caused by Phytopthora palmivora.
Apply fungicide Trifolin, Metaxyl.

Dormant Plants are not sick plants. They are just without leaves and waiting for new shoots to grow.

Last Words of Advice :

A.Identify your problems correctly.
B.Treat immediately and accordingly
C.Integrate different methods on solving problems.
D.Use ‘rifle’ not ‘shot-gun’ approach

“Growing Orchids Is Not Difficult”