Mold or fungal growth on your orchid roots can be difficult to diagnose. Is it a fungus or is it mold? Even if you know for sure, it can be difficult to completely remove the fungus and prevent it from coming back. However, if you are looking for ways to combat mold or fungus infestation on your orchid roots, you have come to the right place. If the orchid soil is moldy, there are a few solutions and we hope this article answers your questions about treating your orchid.
Causes of mold on orchid potting substrates
In most cases, these infections are caused by overhydration. Both root rot and foliage that is too wet canlead to mold formation. If you notice a white substance on the potting soil, there is a good chance that the roots are not yet infected. Often this is not mold, but just residue from the growing medium. It can also be residue from the tap water you use to water your plants.
Here, too, it is important to pay attention to other symptoms in addition to the mold to find out whether it is really a fungal infection. Occasionally, white growths form on orchids that are not mold but rather mealybugs. These can be treated with isopropyl alcohol, but generally these pests do not attack a plant's roots.
Mold and fungi can often be confused. Although related, there are some important differences between these common orchid problems. A fungus is a tiny, microscopic organism that is an integral part of our natural world. Although it is neither a plant nor an animal, it is a living species with a unique classification.
Mold is a type of fungus that is different from other types of fungi. It is also microscopic and invisible to the human eye. However, if enoughMold spores grow together, they can spread quickly and are visible without a microscope.
Orchid soil is moldy: treatment options
If overwatering is the cause of mold growth, the best treatment is to reduce watering. Check your watering frequency and technique. Water early in the day and avoid using moss as a growing medium as it can retain excess water.
If mold has formed on the roots and they begin to rot, you can cut them off and repot the plant in a new growing medium. Orchids do not tolerate severe pruning, so only remove the completely destroyed parts. If you remove the diseased tissue, you canHelp your plantto save energy and save their lives.
In most cases, mold on orchid roots is harmless, but limiting watering until the roots are white or gray can ensure your plant doesn't become overwatered and unhealthy mold form. In summer, you can open the windows to improve air circulation, reducing the likelihood of mold.
There are natural treatments for mold on orchids: ingredients from other plants are good sources with anti-fungal properties. These include mint, ground cinnamon, onions and garlic, to name a few.
The best method to treat various orchid fungal infections or white mold on orchids is to use tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is all-natural and has certain antibacterial properties that can cure many types of infections, including fungal infections.
Another way to treat mold on orchids or fungal infections is to use cinnamon. After trimming your orchid's leaves, trunk, or roots, sprinklea little cinnamonabout the affected areas. You can sprinkle the spice over the area to be treated or dip the area directly in cinnamon. Just make sure the areas to be sprinkled have been moistened so the powder will adhere better.
Garlic not only promotes human health, but also that of plants. Garlic water for orchids disinfects the soil when the orchid soil becomes moldy and is a reliable disease prevention agent. Watering orchids with garlic water can be carried out at any time of the year, although the optimal number of repetitions is 1-2 times per month for preventive purposes.
Garlic infusion for orchids is prepared according to the following recipe:
Crush 1 garlic and squeeze out the juice.
Add 1 glass of boiling water.
The mixture is insisted for 20 minutes.
The cooled solution is filtered through cheesecloth and the correct proportions for dilution are 3 tbsp per 1 liter of water.
Orchids can be watered with garlic water both on the roots and without roots. Only use fresh, diluted solution: using the concentrate will spoil the roots.
What not to use
It is best not to use fungicides with harmful chemicals because there are not enough studies to prove that they do not harm the environment in the long term. Such products are dangerous if inhaled, so children and pets should be kept away if you spray them on plants.
