Cockroaches are some of the most annoying pests with which you will have to battle in growing orchids. They can do unimaginable damage in a few nights if not stopped and destroyed.
Why are cockroaches such a big problem? The answer is that one of their favorite sources of food is a potted plant’s tender young roots and flower stems. It is not unheard of for the roots of a plant to be completely chewed up in a single night by roaches.
Dealing effectively with cockroaches is a huge subject. 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.
Many poisons have been devised in an attempt to control roaches. If you go the poison route, you must of course only use the ones that will not harm your plants. Visit the garden supply section of your local hardware store.
For a less risky approach, many people have had great success with a combination of boric acid, a little sugar, and flour, mixed with water to make a paste. Put some paste everywhere — cracks, crevices, underneath shelves, behind objects, in baseboard holes. To be completely safe, though, don’t allow any of the stuff on the plants themselves.
You might also set out some of those “roach hotels.” These will catch many roaches and prevent them from getting to your orchids in the first place.
Honestly, however, the only way to keep control of cockroaches is to search for them continously, 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 more tips and suggestions for making sure that pests such as roaches don’t put an end to your plants. The most complete guide to expert orchid cultivation, I have found, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which may be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard’s guide is a complete course, helpful for novices as well as the more experienced growers alike. Also, visit the Orchid Secrets web site, which has an ever-growing library of information on all aspects of orchid cultivation.
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