Culture Tips.

We have included here some helpful culture tips that you may find useful as you strive to grow that magnificent orchid plant producing spectacular blooms. All of these have been used by growers in the Townsville area of Australia.

Disclaimer: All information here does not carry the recommndation nor endorsement  the Townsville Orchid Society Inc. and you take full responsibility for any and all actions. You are advised to do further research to convince yourself that any action you take is an appropriate one for your plants and conditions.

1. Scale.  
                      
                         Close up of scale.        Successful results of spraying.                      How to spray.

Scale can be an unsighty problem as the little critters, under their protective coat, suck the life out of your orchid - and they can breed like the proverbial rabbits. They love the underside of cattleya orchids.
The good news is that they can be safely and easily eliminated from your collection.

Method: 
A. Mix up 2 cups of vegetable oil (whatever you are using for cooking in your kitchen, e.g.canola, is perfect) with half a cup of your favourite washing up liquid (e.g. Morning Fresh). Other combinations are also in the literature. (OR 4tbl with 1tbl, OR 1 cup with quarter cup, OR 100mL with 25mL, OR...., depending on how much you want, you get the picture.)
B. Shake vigorously to mix the contents well. Label your stock bottle.
C. To use, shake your stock solution and add 20mL to a litre of water in a spray bottle. Shake to mix.
D. Spray all (stress – all, as this remedy only works when it covers the scale) surfaces of the leaves on the affected plant. The third photograph above shows how this should be done. Do not spray in the really hot part of the day.
E. If your spray coverage is thorough you will kill every scale. 

2.