Contents:

• Yellow leaves - what to do?
• How to treat the roots of orchids?
• Pests: types, prevention, treatment

One lovely Venus, indulging in amorous pleasures, dropped a shoe, which immediately turned into a delightful flower. This flower was named the orchid, since it is considered a symbol of love and sexuality. Orchid has always attributed magical properties: from its petals and seeds prepared a love potion. A woman grow this flower, secretly received the recognition of all the men around her.

Even today, all the fans of indoor plants dream of having in his collection at least one orchid. After all, with its incomparable beauty of any one flower. And those who are trying to grow this plant in the home know - Orchid calls for a reverent attitude, constant care and attention. In addition, this flower is subject to various diseases, but in order to cure it, will require maximum effort and patience. In this article we will explain what the disease of orchids are the most dangerous, and try to describe the effective methods of treatment.

Yellow leaves - what to do?

Yellowing of the leaves is the most common problem in orchids. For a start, let us look at the causes of the trouble. Yellowing of the leaves is due to malnutrition. That is, it is practically not to enter the necessary substances for normal growth. There are several reasons. Firstly, it could be a natural process - some species of orchids shed their old leaves in the dry season.

Secondly, the cause of the disease may be a fungal infection, which in turn arise from the excess moisture. Very often we buy already infected plant and wondered why it disappears with time. After all, the Orchid shop looked quite healthy. The answer is simple: it means - her properly tended, and too abundant watering.

At the first sign of infection you should immediately start treatment. The sooner you do, the faster the plant will get its original appearance. The main thing to remember is that the treatment need not only leaves, but the roots of the plants. It is up to them, and is infecting the entire flower. If you just delete the missing piece of paper - it will not help. Over time, the plant will lose the second, third. ... And revive it will be impossible. Thus, we begin to act.

The first step is thoroughly dried flower. All - and the roots and stem. This will slow down the growth of infection. Remove the flower from the pot and let sit for hours in a dry place. Get antifungal (fungicide) and treat the orchid, following the instructions in the manual. Once the roots dry completely, place the flower in the new ground and try to closely monitor the humidity. In no case do not pour the plant!

In order to avoid the above problem, follow some tips:

• Orchid loves well-lit place, so make sure that it lacked sunlight;
• Never place the plant in pots. Otherwise there will be stagnant water, while the disease is not exactly avoided;
• Do not let the pot with flower standing in the water. After watering check the tray and, if necessary, drain the water from it.

How to treat the roots of orchids?

Firstly, I want to give a small tip: when buying always pay attention to the roots of plants. It is not hard to do, because orchids are usually sold in transparent pots. If all the roots are dark brown, limp in appearance - do not purchase a flower! Rather, he is already infected - such roots will not cure. Flower doomed. Healthy roots - dense, have a greenish or silver color. If you are unable to avoid problems with the roots, do the following:

• Spread out on the table a piece of paper or polyethylene;
• Carefully remove the flower from the pot. Make it easy: take it by the stem and start rocking, holding a pot with the other hand;
• Pulling out the plant, well shake off the roots from the ground;
• Search for contaminated sites: the roots in these places will be sluggish, pressing one of them can pour liquid;
• Carefully remove the missing roots, cut them with scissors up to the living tissue;
• Treated plants antifungal medication;
• Take the new pot, previously disinfected with soapy water, and fresh soil (buy ready-made at the store);
• Sprinkle on the bottom of the pot a layer of soil on top place the roots of the plant;
• Holding the plant with one hand, the gaps between the horses fall asleep ground.

Keep in mind - the orchid does not like too frequent transfers. Experts recommend the procedure to carry out no more than once every two years. If any health problems of the flower is not observed, and the plant can be transplanted every three years. �

Pests: types, prevention, treatment

Orchid Diseases can arise not only because of the overabundance of moisture and fungal infections. This plant is very fond of various pests that can live in the soil and on the surface of the flower. Let's look at what terrible pests orchids.

• Coccidae and Jose scale

These insects are striking orchid having thick leathery leaves: phalaenopsis, cattleya, bulbofillumy. If you notice on the plant leaves brown dots or build-up, half the size of a match head - it is the females data pests. Control measures are simple: clean the flower of the parasite and sprinkle fitoverm, spreading his instructions. To prevent rinse water leaves the plant every 5-6 days;

• Mealybug

This pest is similar to miniature white fluffy ball. And despite its innocent appearance, it is considered the most dangerous for orchids. Causes of mealybug is different: it can fly out the window along with the dust and wind, it can spread the ants, and it can be transmitted from an already infected plants. Treatment: to clear the parasite leaves and rub them gently swab dipped in liquid soap. It is also necessary foliar and soil fitoverm: twice at weekly intervals;

• Whitefly

It would seem that the worst that could bring a small and harmless-looking butterfly? In fact, this pest and its larvae suck out plant juices. The result is that it starts to hurt and to throw off the leaves. It is easy to find: just shake the paper and see how the flock will wave in the air. Treat as follows: wash the plant with a solution made of soap (some soap and 6 parts of water), spray aktellik substrate. Spraying is recommended to repeat a week later;

• Thrips

Like a black stick with wings. While infecting these insects on the leaves and stem appear dark spots and silver plenochka. Moreover, thrips are amazing and the roots of the plants (they appear "waist"), and buds (black dots with tiny holes). Treatment is carried out fitoverm or aktellik. Spraying is carried out three times at intervals of 10 days;

• Spider mite

This pest - storm many houseplants. And orchids are no exception. How to recognize: the leaves turn white, they receive a lot of small holes, so that the leaves fall. The buds are also prone to mite - fall, did not dissolve. Also at the plant can be seen a light, almost invisible cobweb. Treated disease high humidity: the pot with the plant is placed in a pan with water for several hours. Then you need to sprinkle in the same fitoverm;

• Millipedes

They live in the soil. Moreover, the purchase and the land may be contaminated by them. If time does not take action, all the plants in the house will suffer from this parasite. To get rid of them, you need to lure from the substrate. For this flower is placed in a tray with water and wait for the pests come out. They need to catch and make the room where the flowers. After the treatment plant, it is desirable to transplant into fresh soil, pre-check for parasites.

Diseases and pests of orchids - it is certainly unpleasant, but in many cases fixable. Most importantly, time to identify the disease and start treatment. We hope that our article will benefit you and your collection of these wonderful plants will be pleasing to the eye for a long time!

Contents:

• Miltonia orchid as a species
• Growing Conditions
• Care Milton
• Diseases and pests

Certainly in the collection of the famous detective as well as amateur and connoisseur of orchids Nero Wolfe (the hero detective Rex Stout), and was an amazing orchid Milton. After such an unusual orchid want to have in your collection any grower, and not to mention the collectors. However, such a beauty not only decorate this collection, but also more modest domestic collection of colors. By the way, this orchid its name was in honor of the collector Edlaydzhena Milton. What is so good Miltonia? What's in it is so special? How to grow it at home? What kind of care to provide it? Let's try to understand.

Miltonia orchid as a species

This orchid, like everyone else, belongs to the family of orchids. In general, Miltonia - is the name of a genus of orchids, including more than twenty species. All of them are very beautiful in bloom, and this has earned the love of flower growers. Of course, exotic Milton will not name. But there is in it something tender and touching. And she's like to see pansies. Incidentally, in everyday life and it is called.

Noteworthy flowers Miltonia not only a form resembling butterflies and colors. Moreover, these flowers make special pattern on the petals in the form of droplets flowing. Painting colors and striking diversity - a real extravaganza of colors from pure white but rich purple, the combination of the two colors to many colors, smooth transition from color to hard contrast.

All kinds of Miltonia divided into subtypes depending on their origin. Species that come to us from Colombia, are called miltoniopsis and directly Milton called the Brazilian species. There are orchids Miltassiya - a hybrid Miltonia with orchid genus breaststroke.

Miltonia Orchids - epiphytes. That is, in the wild they live in trees and are simpoidalnymi orchids. This means that they grow in a horizontal direction, thereby forming the basis of so-called shoots Pseudobulb (thickening accumulating nutrients and moisture). From bulb grow leaves and flower stalks. After flowering orchids their life cycle continues with the formation of new shoots (growth).

Growing Conditions

Although Milton and epiphytes, in the home they are grown in flower pots. Best of all these plants suited plastic ware, which does not allow moisture to evaporate quickly. At the bottom of the pot is placed necessarily drainage layer of large pieces of bark, and the pot filled with soil or special pochvosmesi. Miltonia grow well in soils consisting of spruce bark, peat moss or perlite.

How comfortable to Miltonia its location in the room, it can be judged by the color of the leaves. This, incidentally, is one of the features of this orchid. If at this point the plant feels well, the leaves turn slightly pink hue. In general, Miltonia loves partial shade. This orchid grows well and blooms on a light box, and if it goes to the East or West. But if Miltonia grows on the south window, it needed additional pritenenie.

Another feature Miltonia - love for moderate temperatures. It would seem that the flower of tropical forests should be comfortable in hot conditions, but no. Comfortable for her temperature - about twenty degrees. However, cool Miltonia is also no fan. Therefore, the temperature of twelve degrees below carries bad. Especially painful this orchid respond to sudden changes in temperature, and may die from drafts.

Care Milton

Basic care of this orchid is to create a comfortable environment, proper watering, fertilizing, and timely transplant. Permanent abundant watering needs orchid Milton period of growth and flowering. At this time you need to make sure that the soil in the pot was always hydrated and prevent drying out of the soil. However, it does not need to be zealous as excessive watering can cause root rot and lead to the death of the plant. Be sure to drain the water from the sump and periodically spray the plant.

In winter orchid enter a period of rest, almost do not grow and bloom. At this time, watering must be reduced practically to a minimum. Watering flower need occasionally, making sure that the soil in the pot remained almost dry. And with the onset of spring and the arrival of the first new shoots watering to resume.

For abundant flowering orchids need to be fed a special fertilizer. Begin fertilizing should be the resumption of watering. During budding fertilizing once a week, and after the start of flowering they do not stop, just fertilize the plants often.

Miltonia needs in a timely transplant. However, without need to move from one flower pot in another is not necessary. This should be done only when the orchid is getting crowded, and its roots just beginning to bulge out of the flowerpot. For the transplant takes the pot a little bit more than before, put on the bottom of the drainage layer and prepare pochvosmes.

The soil in the old pot a good moisturizer, punched and obstukivaem and then gently extract plant. Remove from the roots of the old soil and place the plant in a new pot. Holding it aloft, begin to pour the new substrate, sealing it carefully. At the same time on the ground do not press and obstukivayut pot. To ground to fill the void between the roots, it is compacted with a wooden stick and very long roots when they are placed in a pot left on the substrate surface.

The first three or four days after the transplant do not water the orchid, but constantly sprayed. It is not recommended at this time, and fertilize the plant. A transplant itself should be carried out only up to the beginning of active growth or after flowering.

Diseases and pests

Care assumes any potted plant and treatment for diseases or attack by pests. Possible ailments Milton, their causes and the necessary assistance:

• The salinity of soil-ground results in drying of leaf tips. If you start watering the plant with rain water or mild, the salt balance of the soil is restored.
• To root rot causes excessive watering. In this case it is necessary to transplant the plant into a new level disinfected soil and reduce watering.
• Dry leaves and stems can be a sign of the defeat of a plant scale insects. Pests destroy mechanically rubbing the leaves and stems are soaked in alcohol swab, and then treated with the insecticide.

At the first sign of drying, plants are depressed, lethargy and dropping buds Milton should be watered and sprayed fitosporin. It is advisable to transplant the plant into a new pot and replace the soil. Do not forget that the most frequent cause of diseases of indoor plants becomes improper care.

So try to choose for their orchid comfortable place to protect it from direct sun and drafts, avoid sudden changes in temperature and watering time. But even competent care does not guarantee you an abundant flowering. Miltonia so capricious that no one can say exactly how to behave in the newly acquired plant. But as you know, who does not risk, that does not win. Therefore, all the risk to settle in her home this beauty. Perhaps it is you it will grow and bloom without any problems. Good luck!