To take good care of butterfly orchids, in addition to regular watering, fertilizing, and providing light, you also need to prevent the occurrence of pests. If you like to keep your plants on an outdoor balcony, the most common pest is aphids. These pests love to parasitize any plant, they are quite hardy, and they usually come in swarms, which is quite annoying.
During care, if aphids appear on your butterfly orchid, how should you prevent them? What harm do they cause? Let's first talk about how bothersome aphids are. They like to feed on the tender parts of the butterfly orchid. The leaves that have been sucked on by aphids will gradually become deformed and twisted, and the once-smooth leaves will become wrinkled. The flower buds they attack are in worse shape—they either fail to open or open in a distorted way. At the same time, aphids secrete a sweet substance called honeydew, which attracts ants. After a few days, the leaves are covered in a layer of black mold, which makes the delicate orchid look like a "dirty flower."
What methods can be used to deal with aphids? First, spring is the peak season for aphid outbreaks, so prevention is key. Especially when the butterfly orchid starts to sprout new leaves and enters its growing season, it is important to spray the whole plant with 10% imidacloprid wettable powder, diluted with water according to the instructions. This will not only kill the overwintering aphid eggs hidden in the growing medium but also repel the pests, achieving two goals at once.
If you haven't had a chance to prevent them and aphids have already infested the plant, you can buy imidacloprid or acetamiprid and dilute it with water to a concentration of 1000 times (be sure to get the concentration right—too strong will burn the leaves, too weak will not kill the pests). When spraying, focus on the tender leaves on both sides, around the buds, and in the gaps of the flower buds. Spray every 7-10 days, about three to four times, and it will effectively eliminate the aphids.
Finally, a reminder: When spraying pesticides, be sure to take protective measures, such as wearing gloves and a mask. Avoid letting the solution splatter on your face or hands. After spraying, wash your hands immediately and ensure good ventilation to avoid feeling dizzy from the fumes. As long as you prevent and treat aphids in time, they won't be a big problem. Your butterfly orchid will still grow lush green leaves and produce beautiful flowers!
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