Orchids have drops on the leaves - reasons

Orchid growers sometimes notice that the plant is "crying" - sweet sticky drops appear on the leaves. This phenomenon is discussed on forums, various assumptions are put forward. It's worth figuring out why the orchid has sticky leaves and what to do about it.

Sticky drops on an orchid: what is it

If the orchid has drops on the leaves, it may be extra-flowering nectar released as a result of a reaction to external conditions. There is no cause for concern. Such nectar is a bait for pollinating insects, but you still need to remove plaque so that it does not become a breeding ground for pathogens.

Lovely orchid

If a viscous and sticky plaque appears on the bottom of the leaf, then this is a signal for the owner of the orchid. The conditions of detention are not suitable for Phalaenopsis, or pests have settled on the shoots. If you do not take any measures, the flower may die. The plant must be immediately isolated from others.

The main reasons for the appearance of drops

The disease of a beloved plant always causes alarm among flower growers, so they strive to identify the pest, find out the cause of the disease, in order to admire the blooming orchid again. It is necessary to inspect all the plants, analyze the state of humidity, the temperature regime in the home greenhouse.

Sick orchid

The reasons for the appearance of sticky transparent drops can be:

• Watering. The flower is watered abundantly. Water constantly glistens in the pan, which does not have time to evaporate, stagnates in the ground. White bloom appears on the top layer of the soil. Low room temperatures can contribute to this condition. It is necessary to dry the top layer of the soil well or replace the soil with fresh one, pour drainage from small bricks on the bottom of the flowerpot.
• The sun. Bright, sunny color can also cause a sticky coating. We urgently need to rearrange the pot from the windowsill.
• Fertilizers. With an excess of fertilizer, brown spots appear on the leaves. They can become covered with a sticky coating.
• Gluten. The glue can be left by pests that have settled on the orchid.

Powdery mildew can also appear as droplets on the leaves. Small droplets grow and the leaf becomes completely stained. Treatment must be started immediately, otherwise the specimen will dry out.

Sticky coating on the leaves

Signs of illness

Any houseplant can get sick. A florist should take care of returning the flower to its previous appearance.

If black spots are visible among the transparent drops, it is worth sounding the alarm: powdery mildew develops. The causative agent of powdery mildew is present in any soil, but activation of activity occurs only under the conditions:

• if the soil has a high nitrogen content;
• violation of watering - the flower is watered often;
• the flowerpots are too crowded - the orchid does not have enough air;
• the causative agent is the host itself.

Comprehensive measures against leaf stains:

• isolation of the flower from other species, the choice of a permanent sunny place;
• refusal during the period of treatment from fertilizers, after an illness, to restore the orchid, phosphorus-potassium compounds will be required, but not nitrogen;
• a sick plant does not require a large amount of moisture;
• it is necessary to replace the soil, since the colonies of fungi spread in the upper layer;
• during transplantation, the stem should be sprayed with medications and healthy pouring, the roots should be kept in a solution of the medicinal product;
• processing the flowerpot and pallet will not hurt.

When Phalaenopsis Needs Help

Potential pests

The cause of sticky drops on orchid leaves can be external manifestations of pests:

• Mealybug. It can be confused with a shield. It can appear not only on the plant, but also nearby, on the soil. Larvae and adults bite into leaves and stems and suck out the juice. Sticky marks remain after them. Toxic enzymes secreted by the worm enter the vessels of plants. The plant weakens and may die.
• Aphid. You can recognize it by a twisted sticky leaflet, withered peduncles. Aphids suck the juice from the leaves, which is why they gradually die off. If not taken care of, secondary sooty fungus infection can occur. It is better to destroy the pest with insecticidal preparations, but before that, wash the shoots with a solution of soap and tobacco.
• Miniature white butterfly - whitefly. It gnaws through the top layer of orchid tissue and sucks out the juice. After it, transparent nectar and yellow stains remain. Many growers save orchids by hanging flypaper around it, but if you do not have time, the butterfly that has settled on the plant lays eggs, and the fight against it becomes more difficult. Any insecticide will help against whitefly. After spraying, the plant is placed under a film so that not only adults, but also the larvae of the pest, die.
• Shield. The pest multiplies very quickly, the females store their eggs under the shell. The hatched larvae are able to move. They crawl along the shoots, looking for a place where they can attach with their proboscis and stay until adulthood and egg laying. The food of the scale insect is the sweet juice of phalaenopsis. If you water the soil in a flowerpot with an enteric insecticide. The shield will suck out the poisoned juice, which will provoke its death.

Orchid pests

What to do if there are sticky drops on the orchid

Noticing sticky droplets on the orchid, what to do? First of all, you need to identify an active pest. You can treat an orchid from powdery mildew with the help of fungicides:

• Topaz, Fundazol, Vitaros destroy fungal spores.
• Sometimes flower growers use treatment with strong contact poisons, for example, Fozalon.
• Aktellik, Aktara are referred to as intestinal poisons. A pest that feeds on ground shoots is poisoned.
• Phosphamide is a systemic poison. First, the poisonous solution enters the plant. Insects that suck the sap become infected and die.
• Promanal AF Neu is an oil-based remedy used against worms. The pest dies within 24 hours.

Alternative options can be biological products that are absolutely harmless to the environment. Fitosporin, gamair, planriz inhibit the growth of fungi.

If all the recommendations for caring for the indoor specimen have been taken into account (the number of fertilizing and irrigation is reduced, the leaves are washed with warm soapy water), and sticky drops continue to form, more effective measures are needed.

Powdery mildew on orchid leaves

Scabbard Fight

Scabbards are the most common phalaenopsis pests. The measures to combat them are as follows:

1. Isolation of an infected specimen and the creation of special conditions for its rehabilitation.A flower grower who is fond of growing orchids at home can put the flowerpot in a plastic bag. Such a measure will create increased humidity around the flower. Such a "greenhouse" needs to be aired daily.

2. Rinse the plant under running water using a toothbrush. With a toothbrush, you can remove the sticky pad, remove the adults of young scale insects that do not yet have their own shield.
3. After this procedure, the plant must be treated with an insecticide Aktellik or Fitoverm.

When working with poison, you need to follow the instructions. You can use folk remedies:

• Ethyl alcohol can be used to treat plants with thick leaves. You should soak a cotton swab in alcohol and wipe the leaves of the specimen.
• Peel the stem and leaves of the garlic cloves: just rub the bumps. This method is used for minor infections.
• If you mix olive oil with water (2 tablespoons per 1 liter) and apply the solution to the infected areas, the pests will disappear.

Shield pest

Aphid control

Aphids are a dangerous insect, because in addition to harm to the plant, it serves as a carrier of infections. In the fight against aphids, it is applicable:

• removal of damaged flowers, buds, leaves;
• washing off aphids under running water;
• treating the plant with soapy water or diluted dishwashing liquid.

After the upper leaf blades are wiped with soapy water, you need to spray the Aktar or Fitover shoot and soil with intoxication.

Aphid-infested orchid can be sprayed with 3% chlorophos solution. Folk remedies help to cope with aphids:

• Prepare an infusion from a finely chopped onion (pour boiling water and leave for 8 hours). Strain the solution. Spray the infected plant 3-4 times a day for a week.
• If there are dried citrus peels, prepare a daily infusion of them (take 100 g of the ingredient, pour 1 liter of boiling water). Spray the diseased orchid with the resulting composition for several days 5-6 times a day.
• Can be sprayed with tobacco infusion (30 g of tobacco per 1 liter of water).

Aphids on an orchid

Mealybug control

The worms hide themselves and hide their larvae under a layer of substance resembling cotton wool. The fight against them is painstaking, daily:

• The flower grower will have to collect the worms every evening and wipe the pest habitat with a napkin dipped in any detergent.
• Spraying the lower shoots and soil with Fitoverm will help the orchid.
• A hot shower and treatment with intestinal agents, which include oil, save the mealybug. Dr. Folly will be an effective drug. You need to process the lower shoots and soil several times, taking a break for 10 days.

There are interesting folk remedies for destroying the worm:

• A mixture of 2 tbsp. l. olive oil and 1 liter of water. After spraying the infected shoots, the pest will disappear.
• Alcohol solution: 15 g of liquid soap, 10 ml of denatured alcohol and 1 liter of water.

Dry citrus peels can be used to cover the soil in a pot with an orchid. You can try to treat the orchid with folk remedies: mix vegetable oil and finely chopped garlic. Rub the leaves and shoots with a mixture.

Orchid pests (midges, bugs, insects) are noticeable upon close examination. You need to start fighting them immediately, otherwise the parasite population will spread and it will be difficult to cope with them.

Orchid pest

Prevention methods

Preventive measures against phalaenopsis pests are as follows:

1. New copies should only be purchased from specialized stores. Be sure to inspect the shoots so as not to acquire an infected specimen.
2. The flowerpot should be quarantined to make sure it is healthy.
3. The collection of indoor plants should be inspected periodically.
4. You should familiarize yourself with the rules for caring for phalaenopsis. To grow a flower at home, you need: a warm, bright room, high humidity (60%), watering and fertilizing with fertilizers.

A wonderful gift - an orchid

In order for a flower to please with its flowering for a long time, you need to follow the rules of care. If suddenly sticky drops have formed on the leaves of a tropical beauty, you need to immediately find the reason. Untimely assistance can lead to the death of the plant.