The main goal, as I wrote in previous article is to grow and produce beautiful orchid plants and flowers for our own personal enjoyment. This article will provide easy alternative methods in treating many of the common pests of orchids.

Ant eliminator

1. Melt ¼ pound of candle wax, then slowly stir ¼ cup sugar and 4 ounces of Boric
Acid Powder. When thoroughly mixed, pour into a pan, creating a ¼ to ½” slab.
Cut into chunks and distribute around the greenhouse. Keep away from children
and pets.

Fungicides

Cinnamon Powder –has many medicinal uses and is a known natural fungicide.
1. Powder –can be applied directly onto the affected part of the plant by dusting
heavily.
2. Paste –mix powder with cooking oil to form a thick paste that can be put directly
onto the cut parts of the orchid.
3. Spray –combine 2 tablespoons of cinnamon powder into a pint of isopropyl
alcohol, shake well and let stand overnight. Filter solution through a coffee filter
and use the brown liquid as an all purpose fungicide spray. It is even good for
damping off of deflasked seedlings. For a combination fungicide/insecticide –put
1 cup of the cinnamon/alcohol extract into a pint bottle, add 2 tablespoons of
dishwashing detergent and top off with water. Use as a spray.

All Purpose Disinfectants

1. Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide –For crown rot or other infected areas, pour directly
onto the infected area and let stand for 5 minutes. Tilt the plant to remove the excess
liquid.
2. Chlorine Bleach –add 1 once of household bleach into a gallon of water. Spray the
solution directly onto cutting tools, benches, walkways, and even onto the plants.
Bleach will help to control fungus, bacteria, and algae.
A. Sterilize used pots with a 10-15% bleach solution, let stand overnight. Make
sure that all white roots are removed with a scouring pad, as they may contain
viruses.

Slug and Snail Treatments

1. Traps –put a plate or saucer full of fresh beer on the floor, snails and slugs will
be attracted to it, fall into it and drown.
2. Spray –Mix left over coffee 50/50 with water or stronger and spray. It seems to work
well on the tiny bush snails.
3. Baits –put slices of raw potatoes near the plants. Slugs and snail can be collected in
the morning.
4. Barriers –create barriers in your growing areas to prevent slugs and snail from
crawling onto the benches. You can put sandpaper, copper foil, Tree Tanglefoot, or
even Diatomaceous Earth, onto the legs and tops of benches.

Weed Herbicide

1. Spray full strength household vinegar on weeds, repeat daily as needed. This is
not to be used for weeds growing in the pots of the orchids. Use only on the
greenhouse floor, surrounding areas, walkways, driveways, etc.