TheNaturePlanet

When you walk into a flower shop, most shop owners will recommend orchids, especially Phalaenopsis, because they are visually appealing and create a sense of closeness. However, while they briefly mention care tips, very few teach you how to prevent pests or deal with those mysterious little insects.

Generally speaking, the most common pests that affect Phalaenopsis orchids include aphids, small flying insects, red spiders, and occasionally snails and slugs. Today, let's talk about the damage caused by snails and slugs. These two pests are quite persistent. During the day, they like to hide at the bottom of the pot or in the crevices of the planting medium. At night, they come out and attack the most tender parts of the orchid, such as young leaves, buds, and petals. After eating the tender leaves, they become pitted and damaged, and they especially love to gnaw on new shoots. If there are flower buds, the petals will be eaten and damaged, and they might even chew on the flower buds, leading to root rot, as the slime they leave behind on the plant can speed up the decay process. The shiny, sticky mucus left behind can dry and stick to the leaves, making it difficult to clean and affecting the plant’s appearance.

How to prevent them?

Physical Isolation: Place the orchid pot on a raised shelf (it can be on a flower rack, table, or even supported by bricks or wooden planks) to keep the bottom of the pot at least 10 cm off the ground. Additionally, scatter a circle of quicklime around the flower rack and pot. Quicklime absorbs moisture and stimulates their bodies, effectively creating a "barrier" to deter them from crawling forward.

Nighttime Hunting: After 8 pm each day, take a flashlight and inspect each pot, focusing on the edges of the pot, the underside of the leaves, and the surface of the planting medium. If you spot any pests, use tweezers to pick them up and discard them, or for those with a more extreme approach, place them in a box with salt (which will dehydrate and kill them). At first, it might seem like a hassle, but with persistence, the number of pests will decrease over time.

Using Pesticides: Apply tetramethrin granules directly to the surface of the planting medium. Just sprinkle a small amount on the surface of the potting medium. As the pests search for food, they will encounter and consume the granules. By the next morning, you'll see the bodies of the pests, and the effect will be particularly noticeable.