Don't Let Roaches Damage Your Orchids

Cockroaches are among the worst pests with which you will have to contend in growing orchids. They can do astoundng damage in a scant few nights if not stopped and destroyed.

Why do cockroaches pose such a big problem?  The answer is that one of their favorite meals is a potted plant's tender young roots and flower stems. It is not unheard of for the roots of a plant to be entirely chewed up in one night by these pests.

Waging war against roaches -- and winning -- is a huge topic. People have been fighting with them in their homes and kitchens for centuries, and we will probably be fighting them for centuries to come. They have evolved to be incredibly successful in living amongst us and in resisting extermination.

A wide array of poisons have been invented in an attempt to control cockroaches. If you go the poison route, you must of course only use the ones that will not do damage to your plants. Check out the garden supply section of your neighborhood hardware store.

For a less potentially risky solution, many growers have had success using boric acid, sugar and flour mixed with water to make a paste. A little paste should be spread into every corner and crevice that you can access. To be completely safe, though, don't get any of the stuff on the plants themselves.

You might also put out a few those "roach hotels."  These will trap many roaches and stop them from getting to your plants in the first place.

In truth, the only way to keep roaches under control is to constantly look for them, both day and night. You should especially search for them on and around your plants in the evening, using a flashlight. They leave their hiding places in the evening to seek food and it is then that they are most easily caught and killed. Don't forget to move your pots and baskets around to uncover ones that may have run into hiding from you.

A good guide to orchid growing will have many other tips and suggestions for making sure that pests such as roaches don't destroy your plants. The most complete guide to modern orchid cultivation, in the opinion of many, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which can be downloaded online. Mr. Howard's guide is a complete course in itself, appropriate for neophytes as well as the more experienced. Also, be sure to visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has a growing database of information on many facets of orchid cultivation.