To the very excellent advice below, I add:
To effectively control (key word: control; Eradication is impossible (and probably unwise to try) problem insects it often is possible to use things that aren't actually poisonous.
For things like spider mites, a simple hard spray of WATER once a week will keep them away. Water works on aphids and whiteflies, too (though not as well). For these, a soap spray (homemade or purchased) will do the job.
Spao works on juvenile scale (when they move around). Horticultural oil works on all of these as well as adult scale. Don't use hort oil in on plnts in full sun in hot weather, but it can be used on plants that are shaded.
None of these methods will indiscriminately kill everything in sight. And that's good, because there are more good bugs than bad ones (in species numbers, NOT raw numbers!)
If you MUST use a poison, use a pyrethrum-containing spray. It works immediately but doesn't last beyond that evening, so unsuspecting good bugs won't wander along and get poisoned as happens with some many so-called "chemical" sprays (they're ALL chemicals, of course, just like WE are all chemicals).
The BEST thing to do of course is to make sure you never have a serious bug problem. Keep your growing area clean, ensure that air flows easily and readily around your trees, remove all dead and decaying leaves, dirt, and general mess from around the tabletops.
And do NOT overwater.
Jim Lewis -
- Tallahassee, FL
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Nina
Reply-To: Nina
Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 08:23:57 -0800
There are two reasons why you might not use a given pesticide on a
given plant:
1) If a product hasn't been registered for use on a given plant, it
can't legally be used on that plant (Although I realize I'm the only
one who pays attention to this....). Most labels say "for yard
ornamentals:, and that can be taken to mean any plant in your yard,
including bonsai. To be on the safe side, before you spray, declare
loudly: "Why, look at these yard ornamentals!. I need to spray them as
directed by the label!".
2) If a product has been tested on a given plant species, and has been
found to be phytotoxic. When this is the case, the label will usually
say something to that effect. You should always test a product before
using it anyway, because cultivars have different sensitivites, and the
plants we use in bonsai are often not common in general ornamental
commerce.
However, my original post was cautioning against the wholesale use of
broadspectrum insecticides. This is a silly thing to do, because it
leads to development of resistant pests, and it can lead to mite
outbreaks, as well as poison the environment. Most bonsai growers
doing spot-spraying of trees with known pests are being very
responsible.
Nina.
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