The Orchid Source - Orchid Forum

What does one do when they only have access to stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and Ace Hardware?

I know that any chemical that is safe for roses is safe for orchids- right?


All the garden centers near me are closed in the winter, so what do I do then?

Does anybody know of some generic brands that work well that I could get at regular hardware store?

Unfortunately, being a starving private college student with more orchids than shoes, I am not sure I have the money to order online.

I am using Schultz orchid fertilizer.

I have: 1 Epidendrum Ibaguense, 5 Phals, one adorable miniature Oncidium, and one Odontoglossum/Onc. intergeneric. One phal and the intergeneric were saved from dumpsters at safeway/king soopers. :P I'm such a scavenger.

Izzie, pretty much everything you need as a starving college student (I'm a starving worker, so I understand! soon to be going back to grad school, so doubly understand!) is at lowes and home depot. You can use the Miracle-Gro ferts there, just use at 1/4 strength since orchids don't need much. It helps a starving college student too because cutting the strength makes it last longer.

For pesticide, anything with imadicloprid as the active ingredient is fine. Bayer Advanced Rose and Shrub something-or-other they have there is a great systemic. I use it myself. They'll also have neem oil, which isn't systemic and not as likely to completely kill whatever baddies you might have. Not sure about fungicides as I've never had to use any *knock on wood*, but the prevailing chem on this forum is Phyton27. If you can't order it online, you might have to wait until you have an orchid show in your area. They'd have it there.

Don't use imadicloprid if you have problems with mites.

In general it is preferable to change culture rather than treat with chemicals, since for the most part, insects and fungus are a sign of less than optimal culture conditions. Of course almost all of us use them at some point or another, but if one of these (esp fungus) is a recurring problem, try to alter your cultural practices.

You are right about the mites. Neem oil or Kelthane will work on those.

I can only agree with your 2nd assertion to a certain extent, Aceetobe. While you'd be silly to grow thin-leaved orchids like Coryanthes indoors where you're guaranteed to get mites (first rule of orchid growing, gardening AND IPM: use plants that are suited to your area), and stressed plants are indeed more prone to pest infestations, even the best culture won't prevent or significantly inhibit the spread of mealybug and scale. If that were true, nurseries and greenhouses everywhere would never have to touch chems. I myself have some happy, healthy catts in s/h that are having issues with a couple different kinds of scale.

Bayer has solved the problem with mites and imidicloprid (Merit) by producing a Rose & Garden spray with imidicloprid AND miticide. So, you can use imidicloprid on your plants and not worry about mites. By the way, I've been using imidicloprid for years and have never had problems with mites. That's because I routinely spray all my orchids with water, and spider mites cannot survive water, it rots their eggs. And spraying with water is good for nearly all orchids anyway.

The tendency of imidcloprid to encourage spider mites was caused by imidicloprid killing mite predators. With the mite predators killed-off the mites can get out of control.

Fascinating, Ed. Never heard that

Thanks for all the replies!

I'm most interested in chemicals to battle the possible fungal infection I've mentioned in Pests and Diseases.

If you are growing indoors (but not in an Orchidarium) your fungus problems should be few...they are usually caused by too high humidity in closed spaces. Fungi are opportunists and rarely attack plants that are in good shape in a normal environment.

I believe your Pests and Diseases question was about a reed-stemmed Epidendrum, right? I've seen the dark spotting on the leaves of many of the older Epidendrum plants. I don't believe I've ever heard exactly what causes it, however, my guess is that is a virus. Fungus usually turns the entire orchid leaves bright yellow and then black, either from the tip or the base, looking like they've been burned, and then they fall off. The spotting on the leaves of reed-stemmed Epis does not seem typical of fungus infections, but slowly spreads into mature growths like a virus does.

Perhaps someone more knowledgeable about reed-stemmed Epidendrums can comment.

Yes it is. If it is a virus, what should I do? Should I isolate this plant?

If it's a virus, I'd pitch the plant in the nearest trash can. Nothing can
be done about it and it can infect other plants nearby. BTW, I've rarely seen an Epi. without some spots on the leaves.

How can I tell if it's a virus and not some other fungus/bacteria?

The only way to be 100% sure of a virus is to have it tested. You can send a leaf sample to a number of labs and they will test it for you. It does cost something like $4.

Blech. It's frustrating that I haven't been able to get a definitive answer on what this is, or how to treat it.
Or rather, I've gotten a lot of deliberation of what it might be, but hardly any suggestions on what to DO. Which I can understand can be hard if you don't know what it is, but still.

Treat with fungicide. Your welcome.

Thanks Chris, I'm sorry to press you guys.

If you have an orchid vendor close to you, you should take it in. However, let them know you're worried about disease, as they may not want to look at it around their other plants.

Some plants look funky. AND - some plants, if you buy them AFTER they've been treated for something, look REALLY funky. Isolate it, and see how the new growth looks.

I'll see if I can take it in (or maybe just some pictures, as it's pretty frigid here) to a large garden center I know of that grows orchids...

I'm definitely isolating it at this point.

I'm a starving parent putting a college student through school so take it from me ... you (and I) can't afford to purchase good chemicals locally. Others in this thread have weighed in on the merits of alternative treatments and on the importance of positive environmental conditions so, as an admitted chemical guy, I'll defer to others with more knowledge in that regard. However ... if you find yourself in need of the right stuff ... google Rosemania. When you're otherwise at your wit's end you'll find what you need there. Even with shipping their prices are better than anything I can find locally, if indeed I can find what I need locally.

Good luck!

Thank you!
I will definitely check that site out!