Dear Orchid Doc:

How do I fertilise and apply fungicide in the rainy season? How long do the roots and leaves need in order to absorb these? Will they wash off without helping the plants?

Marjorie

Dear Marjorie:

There is a product that is called ” spreader sticker” which is used during the rainy season. It ensures longer protection without the chemical washing off.

Bear in mind that this is not an insecticide; it is a helping agent.

There are also chemicals that are systemic. The plants absorb the chemicals, which kill the insects, when they eat the plants. I recommend this type. However, some insects have to be killed by making direct contact with them.

About the fertiliser… this can be added to the insecticide and fungicide to make one spray. The best time to fertilise is when the plants are already wet and in the drinking mood. As a matter of fact, we are supposed to water our plants before we fertilise them.

Dear Orchid Doc:

There are some brown spots coming up on my orchid leaves. What are they and how do I treat them?

Tavar Matthews

Dear Tavar:

A picture of the plant would be helpful, as the fungus might have different applications depending on the type of orchid; example …if it is a Phalaenopsis as compared to a dendrobium.

Let start with a dendrobium: if the spots are under the leaves I might suggest using Topsin, but if it is on top…this suggests a different type of fungus, for which I might suggest Ridomil.

On the other hand if it is a Phalaenopsis, I would suggest cutting off the ” spotted” area and treating it with Physan which is an algicide/ bactericide/fungicide/. It also helps to control viruses which cannot be cured, only controlled.

And if it is an orchid that is kept in the sun, this might also suggest that you are spraying in too much of a hot sun. Spray when the sun goes down, instead of coming up.

Betty Stephenson Ashley

Betty’s Landscaping ,Farm Garden Supplies

161 Constant Spring Road,

Kingston 8, Jamaica .

Cell # 8763224585, 8700191

876-931-8804, 876-755-2204

Fax 876-931-8805

betty-may2@hotmail.com