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Pot worms control | Orchid pest 

Potworm is a major problem in Orchid cultivation. Therefore, it is often called an Orchid worm. Damage varies from grower to grower, but damage can run into millions of euros. The larvae of the Lyprauta and Proceroplatus mosquitoes are the largest perpetrators of damage to pot orchids. In cultivation of Phaleanopsis, much damage is detected in the root tips of the plants. To date, chemical control is not possible and thus, biological control must provide a solution. A sustainable approach to combatting the potworm is of great importance.
Orchids
Jan-Paul de Wit
Product specialist Crop Protection | January 13, 2023 | 4 min. reading time

Recognize Potworm 

The potworm is a larva of a mosquito. The Lyprauta spins a web of threads around itself that allows it to avoid the effects of many pest control agents. These threads are easily identified in the pot, making it obvious that there is an infestation. Eggs are deposited in cocoons in the pot.

Damage pattern from potworm

Potworm mainly causes damage to the roots of a orchid plant. This damage provides an entrance for fungi and bacteria. After eating some of the roots, the root ends turn black and then rot away. The roots will eventually branch out, but this does cause growth retardation. In addition, potworm causes other damage such as fewer flower branches and failure to thrive.

The damaged roots cause;
  • The (young) plant can absorb less nutrition;
  • Soil salinization occurs in the pot;
  • More energy goes into forming new roots; 
  • The cultivation growth slows down;
  • Reduced sales quality occurs;
  • The plant is more susceptible to fungi.

Potworm prevention and reduction

Start with a clean substrate by steaming or freezing. Prevent infestation by covering the plant. This can be done by using fine mesh material that prevents the potworm from reaching the root tips. It is also important to increase plant resistance by applying Consecta. This increases the vitality of the crop and makes damaged root tips recover faster. The addition of AquaGro ensures that the water is better distributed through the substrate. This makes it more difficult for the eggs of the potworm to nest and flush out faster. 

Potworm removal

With black sticky insect trap tape, you easily signal potworms causing them to be caught away.

Potworm treatment

Until now, no chemicals are approved for the treatment of potworm. Biological treatment is therefore the only option. Read more about this below.

Potworm biological control

Atheta counteracts the pest somewhat. Especially under the cloth used to cover the plants, the climate becomes more humid and better for this enemy. 

In addition, insects and parasitic nematodes can also be used to partially control the potworm. In practice, both Nemasys Fand Nemasys H try to tackle the potworm. The first ten weeks are crucial to controlling the potworm, so it is recommended to release soil predatory mites immediately after potting. In addition, light traps help you monitor how many mosquitoes are present in the crop. 

Phalae Protect Gauze for control of pot worms

Phalae Protect Gauze is a fine mesh material that covers the plant. This makes it more difficult for mosquitoes to make the deposit. Tests were first done with hair nets. This material has the disadvantage that it is not evenly produced and does not allow water to pass through evenly. Next, tests with the Phalae Protect Gauze were put out to customers.  

The first tests with the final product Phalae Protect Gauze had positive results. Fewer potworms were found and the material has good water and light permeability, creating a microclimate. It also reduces the cost of the plant material and requires less labor, compared to the test with the hair nets. 

When you use Phalae Protect Gauze, you need less biological control agents. You get optimal effect if you cover the bottom and top of the table. It also provides a better microclimate. 

The results after using Phalae Protect Gauze;
  • Infection pressure from potworm midges is significantly less;
  • The plant has better roots;
  • There is less failure;
  • The plant experiences much less stress because there is virtually no potworm pressure;
  • Cultivation is no longer delayed by the plant's growth retardation normally created by the potworm;
  • Plants on a table have become more uniform in terms of foliage;
  • The mesh has good permeability to water;
  • The plants are larger with a healthy green color;
  • The mesh stops all (larger) flying insects, such as the Turkish moth.
  • Light loss outweighs potworm control: Because the netting completely covers the plants, it affects light penetration. All growers revealed that this leads to about 10 15% light loss. Although this has no major impact in the summer, some growers continue to light longer in the winter. The light loss does not outweigh the potworm problem, however, this depends on the light level installed. 

Video

In the video you can see how te orchid worm looks.   
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jan-Paul de Wit will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.

Pot worms control | Orchid pest 

Potworm is a major problem in Orchid cultivation. Therefore, it is often called an Orchid worm. Damage varies from grower to grower, but damage can run into millions of euros. The larvae of the Lyprauta and Proceroplatus mosquitoes are the largest perpetrators of damage to pot orchids. In cultivation of Phaleanopsis, much damage is detected in the root tips of the plants. To date, chemical control is not possible and thus, biological control must provide a solution. A sustainable approach to combatting the potworm is of great importance.
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Jan-Paul de Wit
Jan-Paul de Wit
Product specialist Crop Protection | January 13, 2023 | 4 min. reading time
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Orchids
Topics in this article

Recognize Potworm 

The potworm is a larva of a mosquito. The Lyprauta spins a web of threads around itself that allows it to avoid the effects of many pest control agents. These threads are easily identified in the pot, making it obvious that there is an infestation. Eggs are deposited in cocoons in the pot.

Damage pattern from potworm

Potworm mainly causes damage to the roots of a orchid plant. This damage provides an entrance for fungi and bacteria. After eating some of the roots, the root ends turn black and then rot away. The roots will eventually branch out, but this does cause growth retardation. In addition, potworm causes other damage such as fewer flower branches and failure to thrive.

The damaged roots cause;
  • The (young) plant can absorb less nutrition;
  • Soil salinization occurs in the pot;
  • More energy goes into forming new roots; 
  • The cultivation growth slows down;
  • Reduced sales quality occurs;
  • The plant is more susceptible to fungi.

Potworm prevention and reduction

Start with a clean substrate by steaming or freezing. Prevent infestation by covering the plant. This can be done by using fine mesh material that prevents the potworm from reaching the root tips. It is also important to increase plant resistance by applying Consecta. This increases the vitality of the crop and makes damaged root tips recover faster. The addition of AquaGro ensures that the water is better distributed through the substrate. This makes it more difficult for the eggs of the potworm to nest and flush out faster. 

Potworm removal

With black sticky insect trap tape, you easily signal potworms causing them to be caught away.

Potworm treatment

Until now, no chemicals are approved for the treatment of potworm. Biological treatment is therefore the only option. Read more about this below.

Potworm biological control

Atheta counteracts the pest somewhat. Especially under the cloth used to cover the plants, the climate becomes more humid and better for this enemy. 

In addition, insects and parasitic nematodes can also be used to partially control the potworm. In practice, both Nemasys Fand Nemasys H try to tackle the potworm. The first ten weeks are crucial to controlling the potworm, so it is recommended to release soil predatory mites immediately after potting. In addition, light traps help you monitor how many mosquitoes are present in the crop. 

Phalae Protect Gauze for control of pot worms

Phalae Protect Gauze is a fine mesh material that covers the plant. This makes it more difficult for mosquitoes to make the deposit. Tests were first done with hair nets. This material has the disadvantage that it is not evenly produced and does not allow water to pass through evenly. Next, tests with the Phalae Protect Gauze were put out to customers.  

The first tests with the final product Phalae Protect Gauze had positive results. Fewer potworms were found and the material has good water and light permeability, creating a microclimate. It also reduces the cost of the plant material and requires less labor, compared to the test with the hair nets. 

When you use Phalae Protect Gauze, you need less biological control agents. You get optimal effect if you cover the bottom and top of the table. It also provides a better microclimate. 

The results after using Phalae Protect Gauze;
  • Infection pressure from potworm midges is significantly less;
  • The plant has better roots;
  • There is less failure;
  • The plant experiences much less stress because there is virtually no potworm pressure;
  • Cultivation is no longer delayed by the plant's growth retardation normally created by the potworm;
  • Plants on a table have become more uniform in terms of foliage;
  • The mesh has good permeability to water;
  • The plants are larger with a healthy green color;
  • The mesh stops all (larger) flying insects, such as the Turkish moth.
  • Light loss outweighs potworm control: Because the netting completely covers the plants, it affects light penetration. All growers revealed that this leads to about 10 15% light loss. Although this has no major impact in the summer, some growers continue to light longer in the winter. The light loss does not outweigh the potworm problem, however, this depends on the light level installed. 

Video

In the video you can see how te orchid worm looks.   
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jan-Paul de Wit will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Jan-Paul de Wit
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