Orchids, same as with all plants, are not maintenance free. You have to constantly take care of them for them to survive and for the ornament to continuously beautify and add appeal to your abode. A positive feature for the orchid is that it is less susceptible to any pests and diseases compared to any other plant. This is because the plant itself is alien to our local atmosphere and to the pests that inhabit it. Another is that, more often than not, we grow orchids indoors which lessen the chance of experiencing common plant issues. While pests find orchids less appealing to other plants in the area, you have to keep watch as it is difficult to eradicate such infestation when it occurs. Slugs and weevils are some of the pests that will likely attack your orchids. If you do notice holes in your favorite leaves, arm yourself with suitable sprays that will wipe-out the bugs. Follow the instructions of the pesticide you are using and follow them religiously. Spraying the bug poison once will not take care of the problem and will not affect the eggs they hatch so this process will have to be repeated.

Common and Boisduval scales are also pests that attack orchids. If you do notice one or two of these pests, just wipe them off with a cloth soaked in methylated spirits. If you see more, resort to pesticides to completely rid the orchid of bugs. Remember to use only sufficient dosage as too much of it will also damage and kill the plant. Mealy bugs, thrips, greenfly and spider mite rounds out the common orchid pests that you will find in your orchids. Same as the above solution, use the appropriate pesticide spray to kill them and read instructions as to the dosage that is required to kill them and how much it takes to harm the plant.

Spots and diseases may be caused by improper handling of the plant. Fungal infections are primarily caused by water or constant moist on the leaves and the orchid itself. Always make sure that the orchids are dry by nightfall and have good air movement around them constantly. Viruses are also one of the problems an orchid grower will face. There are two common viruses for orchids and one of them is the CymMV or the Cymbidium Mosaic Virus. When you do hear the word "mosaic", what comes to mind? It usually is a painting on a canvass or a decoration. This is not the same "mosaic" for your orchid. This is not a "decoration" that you will love seeing as this will leave necrotic spots on the plant. This means that there are one or more cells that are dead in this localized area. Another virus is the ORSV or the Odontoglossum Ringspot Virus. This is very commonly found in a cultivated orchid. This will leave necrotic spots on the plant, not to mention line patterns and ring spots which the name suggests. These viruses are transmitted by contaminated items such as garden tools, used pots and even from the grower's hands. Therefore, proper handling of the plant must be observed at all times to stop the spread of the virus.