If you’ve ever noticed a white patina on the leaves of your orchids, you will understand how frustrating it can be. This phenomenon, often caused by the presence of infestations of cochinealcan compromise the health of your delicate plants.
Find out how you can eliminate this annoying problem with solutions natural and keep your orchids healthy and thriving.
Identify the problem
First of all, it is essential to determine the cause of the white patina. The orchidswhen hit by the cochinealoften show a white substance similar to the mousse.
Identifying the type of parasite is crucial to preventing further damage and preventing the situation from worsening.
Natural solutions to fight cochineal
Neem oil
One of the most effective remedies is the use ofNeem oil. Extracted from the seeds of the Neem tree, this oil has natural repellent properties against parasites.
Applying it on the leaves of orchidscreates a barrier that suffocates them cochinealpreventing them from proliferating.
Tea tree oil
Another powerful natural remedy istea tree oil. Thanks to its properties antifungine and antibacterial, this oil can be used to eliminate mealybugs effectively.
Dilute a few drops in water and apply the solution to the leaves with a sprayer.
Marseille soap
Il Marseille soap it is a traditional solution for many gardeners. His cleansing action and ability to suffocate pests make it an ideal choice for treating mealybug infestations.
Just dilute the soap in water and spray on the plants every few days to see results.
Garlic and onion
The use of garlic e onion it is another technique appreciated for its repellent abilities. Prepare an infusion with these ingredients and use the solution by spraying it on the affected plants.
You can even plant garlic cloves near your orchids for a long-lasting effect.
White wine vinegar
A solution based on white wine vinegar it is a simple and direct way to get rid of mealybugs. Dilute the vinegar in water and apply with a cotton on the affected area.
This method is great for avoiding the use of chemicals.
Denatured alcohol
To deal with particularly resistant infestations, you can usedenatured alcohol. A mixture of water and this alcohol carefully applied to infested plants will help eliminate the pests quickly.
Be careful not to use this method on more delicate plants or during days of strong heat.
