Diseases and Pests

Likey other group of cultivated plants, orchids also are prone to a number of diseases caused by various agents like viruses , fungi, bacteria, insect pests etc. All bacterial , fungal and virus diseases are infectious and unless checked in time, the disease will spread from plant to plant. Except for the viruses , effective preventives and remedies have been discovered for these ailments and if detected in time, they could successfully be eliminated before serious damage is done to the plant.

Preventive measures should be followed strictly and according to rules. Most fungi and bacteria thrive under damp and soggy conditions, because invariably the spores need moisture for germination . Hence overcrowding should be avoided in orchid houses and facilities provided for free air circulation . Debris should not be allowed to accumulate in the house or in its near vicinity . Watering , spraying , fogging etc . should be done early in the day so that by night ,when usually the temperature comes down , teh plants may remain completely dry and relatively impervious to attack by fungi or bacteria .

The grower has to be always on the alert for the symptoms of disease in plants . They should be examined daily so that even the slightest symptom is not overlooked and immediate steps are taken in order to check the spread of the disease.