In article ,
"Loki" wrote:

il Sun, 13 Feb 2005 14:50:12 -0600, Katra ha scritto:

In article ,
Steve wrote:

Katra wrote:

.......................................
Ok... so what can I use for scale infestation on cactus?
San Pedro cactus...


I had to look up a picture of San Pedro cactus to see if it was covered
with spines or not. I see there is space between the rows of spines.
If you have it in a pot, and it's not too huge, you can do it the easy
way. Take some rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab and rub off every scale.
Spray, or otherwise wet the plant with alcohol about twice a week to
kill the microscopic young ones. Inspect the plant closely every week
for a while to watch for new scale. Get them before they have time to
reproduce.
If you live where you are growing this cactus outside, you'll probably
have to spray with something stronger.

Steve

It's in the greenhouse... That's what has me worried!
I've used some sevin', but have read that it usually takes an oil based
insecticide to effectively kill adult scale? But what are oil based
pesticides and how dangerous are they?

Thanks!

Oil based, because they effectively suffocate the insect. That's why
Conqueror Oil is mineral oil, (think baby oil) not a pesticide. But
added with Orthene® (aephate) gives better results. [so the
manufacturer says]
but Orthene thins stone fruits and seems to be added for mealey bug.
So any plain mineral oil will be safe up to harvest time. But I guess
you don't want to eat the cactus.

I'm not planning on eating the San Pedro, well, maybe the fruit, but
future customers might so I do have to be careful! They are primarily a
landscaping cacti and, as I posted earlier, I'm trying to propagate
them. I have 20 successful cuttings growing off of 3 large 3 branched
ones I paid $75.00 each for. They ain't cheap!

Actually, I've not lost a good cutting yet. They need to be a minimum of
3" thick to survive. 5" to 6" do even better. I plan to re-trim stumps
for more buds as I remove the buds ready for callusing and re-planting.

http://home.centurytel.net/Katraslin...SanPedros1.jpg

One of my tip cuttings came down with scale and it had spread to the two
adjacent pots before I discovered it. :-( I've sprayed liquid sevin all
over the others and my cycad and finally cleaned off all three plants by
hand. The spines are short so I could do it!

The biodensity in Greenhouse #1 might need to be reduced until I kill
all the buggers. I don't know where it came from!!! I did those cuttings
about 3 months ago and the appearance of the scale was rather sudden! :-P

Just make sure anything you buy
tells you what's in it.

Oh yes...
One reason I'd rather attempt making my own.

At least the sevin biodegrades, but I used it before I'd read that
carbamyl (sp?) is not very effective against sessile scale...

I also do not wish to kill my greenhouse spiders. I have a kite spider
living in Greenhouse #2 that has been there for several months. That
greenhouse is clean tho'. No mealy bugs or scale.

Here she is:

http://home.centurytel.net/Katraslink/KiteSpider.jpg

She is a bitty little thing, but effective at keeping moths and gnats at
bay! :-)

Thanks!
Kat

--
K.

Sprout the Mung Bean to reply...

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tend to get caught between the ears causing truth decay- so be sure
to use mental floss twice a day. -- Swami Beyondanada

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