Diana, can only tell you my experiences.... I had some trouble with soft
scale & mealie bugs.
Over the last couple of years I have used everything! You name it I've used
it.
Like Ray, I purchased Enstar II & Mavrik, recommended by someone on this
newsgroup?
It is very expensive but does the job if you follow directions carefully. (2
regimens, curative & preventative)
The price will knock your socks off but if I add up the price of all the
stuff I have purchased over
the last couple years, it costs less.
I also told a friend about it, his greenhouse was full of scale both types.
He is most pleased with
the results.
I got mine here in OC, S.Cal at a farm supply store.
Cheers Wendy

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
hlink.net...
Hi, Gang,

Thus far, I've never had what I would call a *serious* pest problem. That
seems to have changed. I've been spotting mealies around the Phals and on
some other plants. I pulled an ailing Phal out of its pot and found the
roots infested with the things. Since, I've been repotting Phals like
crazy. And finding scale. Normally, I use straight alcohol, or, for
scale,
alcohol/soap/oil. Both are effective.

Now, however, I'm afraid I need to do something more, before the whole
collection has problems (found more scale today, on a couple of
Angraecums).
Today I picked up Malathion at HD, and on my way to the register found a
product called Organocide, which advertises itself as a
pesticide/fungicide,
and which is comprised of 5% sesame oil, 92% edible fish oil, and 3%
lecithin. I bought both products.

It's not that I'm completely averse to using chemicals (the Malathion),
but
like anyone else I'd rather avoid it if possible. Also, swarms of geckos
reside in the lanai where most of the plants are, and I don't want to
injure
the beneficial little guys if I can help it.

So my question has to do with the effectiveness of the Organocide, and
also
if I use Malathion can I water it through the medium? I need to do
something very soon; case by case isn't cutting it.

Anyone? Ah, I guess I'm just looking for a little reinforcement. Come
Monday morning I'll probably bomb the place with Malathion.

Diana