05/31/2026
It is that time of year to remind folks about this.
**Preparing your orchids for the rainy season**
In most of Florida, orchid growers face two different seasons. ‘Dry’ and ‘Wet’ ARE our seasons.
Historically, our dry season has shadowed the winter months.
While the wet season starting around May, has shadowed our warmer months.
If you grow orchids outdoors, exposed to our rain storms, NOW is the time to prepare your plants.
Potted orchids require a well-draining media in a draining container. Air circulation and good draining
conditions will eliminate a lot of potential problems.
Inorganic media such as Hydroton (LECA), Lava rock, and Charcoal make for excellent outdoors growing mixes by themselves, or as bark mix conditioners.
Sphagnum Moss is a popular commercial growing media. However, if your orchids will be exposed to rain, sphagnum moss will tend to stay too wet and rot your potted orchids.
On the other hand, if you control the water, ie. your plants are not exposed to rain. Sphagnum moss is a convenient and successful growing media.
You also want to start spraying your orchids with a fungicide. Popular choices include Thiomyl, T-Methyl, Banrot, Sub-Due Maxx, Truban, Aliette, L.O.V (Daconyl), Kocide, Physan-20, Dithane M-45 (N/A), Captan (N/A), and Liquid Copper.
Systemic fungicides (Thiomyl, T-Methyl, Banrot, Sub-Due Maxx, Truban, Aliette), are slower to act. But once the plant is properly sprayed, they will not wash away when watering.
Topical fungicides (L.O.V (Daconyl), Kocide, Physan-20, Dithane M-45 (N/A), Captan (N/A), and Liquid Copper), are faster acting. However, they will start to wash away on your next watering.
Always protect yourself when applying chemicals, and follow manufacturer’s label instructions and warnings.
Organic remedies such as neem oil, cinnamon, hydrogen peroxide, are effective topically. But they need to be reinforced every 48 hours.
A couple of tips:
-The morning after a rain storm, fumigate your orchids with a solution of 1 tablespoon of Physan-20 per gallon of water.
-After the summer storms, cattleyas tend to leach out their calcium. Telltale sign, leaves will show ‘sooth’ like blemishes on their underside. Most of us will think it is a fungus. But it is not. Use a calcium supplement to correct that deficiency.
Snails and slugs make their strongest appearance during this time. Chain store baits melt after they are wet, making them useless. Our best results controlling these pests has been Deadline Micro bait. Surprisingly, hydrogen peroxide works on contact on most slugs and snails.
In conclusion:
Make sure you have your orchids planted in a reasonably fresh, healthy, well-draining growing media.
Use pots and other containers with good drainage.
Spray early with a fungicide of your choice, as needed.
Use Deadline snail bait.
Provide your orchids with good aeration and drainage.
They will reward you abundantly!
