How to Kill Pests in an Orchid Mix

Inspect your orchid to determine what kind of pests you have. This information lets you know what to look for after treatment, and whether the mix will need multiple applications.

Place your orchid into a clean, empty bucket. Mix a gallon of neem oil and water in another bucket, according to label directions. Add 1 teaspoon of non-grease-cutting dish-washing liquid, or the recommended amount of insecticidal soap, and mix well. Adding insecticidal soap to the neem oil isn't necessary, but it increases the effectiveness of neem oil by helping it stick to the medium.

Pour the mixture through your orchid's container until it comes up just under the top of the rim. Allow the orchid to soak in the mixture for approximately 10 minutes to ensure that all the mix is saturated.

Remove the orchid, and let it drain completely. Isolate it from your other plants, and watch for any further signs of insects. Treat the orchid mix again, if necessary, until all insects are gone.

Place a small, yellow container of water with a few drops of dish-washing liquid near the orchid. The yellow color will attract flying insects that come out of the soil or around the orchid, such as fungus gnats, and they will drown in the soapy water. This helps remove any insects that survived the treatment and prevents further infestations. Dump and replace the container as necessary. Placing a yellow sticky strip near the orchid also helps catch flying insects before they make a home in the orchid mix.