Greetings Fellow Orchid Growers!

For many of us, the month of October was a time of transition as we brought our orchids back indoors.  Having our orchids indoors for the winter is highly rewarding, however, it does come with a few challenges.  Our comfortable indoor environment provides perfect conditions for an insect population to have a grand heyday and once an insect starts to multiply they can be a real challenge to get under control. The availability of a variety of products sometimes make it difficult to decipher which ones to use.  The various chemical names and active ingredients can be mind boggling, but it really doesn't have to be all that complicated.

Here at our nursery we are strong proponents of using low toxicity products for orchids growing inside your home.  If you are lucky enough to have an isolated growing area then you also have the opportunity to use stronger products, with caution of course.

Two of our favorite products recommended for home growers are insecticidal soap and neem oil.  These organic, low toxicity products are very effective against the common insects attacking orchids.  It is important to spray thoroughly as these products work best when direct contact is made with the insect. Plus they leave some residual repellent qualities.

If your growing area is isolated from your living space or you are able to carry your plant(s) outdoors when temperatures allow, then you may wish to use something a bit stronger.  In this case we highly recommend using a commonly found product, the Bayer Rose and Flower spray which contains the active ingredient of Imidacloprid, a nicotine-derived systemic insecticide.  This chemical compound works in three ways; systemically, residually, and by direct contact which makes it highly effective in targeting these pests.  Please follow label directions and use with caution.

Whatever insect control you choose, it is always recommended to use products in rotation to reduce the probability of the insects becoming resistant.   Keep an eye out for those pesky pests while your orchids are indoors as populations can proliferate rapidly.  Treat your plants accordingly to keep them clean and pest free for a beautiful flowering season.