Gene,

Given that we down here in FL mainly grow outside under screen or in shade
houses, it's more difficult to control humidity. Of course, during most of
the year we have decently high humidity anyway. The exception is the dead of
winter.

There are so many thrip and scale magnets down here. We have two huge
gardenia bushes (which under no circumstances would I give up), and every
year they attract thrips *and* scale. We now treat the gardenias
prophylactically; it's the only way to avoid them. A mango tree likes white
scale, or vice versa, I suppose. Citrus trees get scale and mites
occasionally. Can't treat anything edible with toxic chems, so we use oil
based stuff.

Ugh. Bugs! Let's talk about something positive, like the fact that we were
over run by Catts in bloom in July, and August isn't too shabby either! ;o)

Diana
"Gene Schurg" wrote in message
news:QZ2Fg.70576$zc2.22599@trnddc06...
Diana,

Bugs must be a regional thing. In my 15 years of orchid growing I don't
think I've ever seen thripes but I hear about people complaining about
them
all the time.

For Spidermites I keep the humidity so high in the greenhouse that they
haven't been a problem for me on orchids but every year I have a trouble
with them on a calomodin orange tree that I've had for 40 years. About
Christmas time after being in the house for 2 months I can depend on them
showing up on that. A spray of an indoor plant insecticide usually gets
rid
of them. Sometimes I have to come back a couple of weeks later for
another
hit.

I understand the isolated bug problem. It only takes a few bugs on a
favorite plant to spoil your day. The damage from the scale lives on a
leaf
forever. I have a couple of Catts that look like they had a bad case of
chicken pox with the scars of scale. Luckily theres a new growth to make
it look fresh and new.

Good growing,
Gene


"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
Gene,

I completely agree about some plants being magnets for certain
infestations.
I can't remember seeing mealies on a Catt, but I certainly have seen them
on
Phals. I've never found them to be awfully hard to control, thankfully.

Scale, on the other hand, is tougher for me. I have an Angraecum,
Longiscott
'Lea', which must have a "bite me" sign out. Yet nothing near it was
affected, though I treated everything nearby anyway. The Angraecum is now
healthy and in spike. What I find hardest to control is thrips, which
adore
our Vandas. I think I've scared them away, happily.

For the first time ever, I had an infestation of spider mites on the
Phals
earlier this year. The little sob's don't announce their presence until
they've done some damage, but we got rid of them with soap and veggie
oil.
All gone.

All that makes it sound as if we've had big bug problems this year, but
that
is not correct. There have been a few isolated incidents.

A while back, I posted a query about orchids blooming way out of season.
Now, that is still a mystery to me.

Diana