Diana,

If you have already bought a sprayer, just skip this post.

Ok you still reading? Stainless sprayers are great for someone who wants to
use a single sprayer for everything. They can be cleaned. Herbicides,
especially 2,4-D, are very hard to completely get out of plastic. No matter
how well you clean a plastic tank that has been used with some herbicides,
the next time you use the sprayer on sensitive plants you may see damage.
Around here we never use a sprayer on the orchids that has been used for
herbicides. In fact, Solo sprayers are used with the orchids and I never
use a Solo sprayer with herbicides. So far this has worked and we have
never had a mix up.

For the past year I have been using a 4.5 gallon Gilmore backpack that I
bought from Lowes for herbicides. It was not cheap and seems flimsy, but
has lasted the full season. Herbicides go down as small droplets to
minimize drift so I can not say how well it works as a sprayer (but I am
sure it works fine). As it came out of the box, I attached the herb nozzle
and threw away the spray one.

If you already have two pump up sprayers and they were cleaned the last time
they were used, I am sure they will work fine. With these sprayers, you get
the finest spray when the tank is under the most pressure, so just remember
to keep it pumped up. I find I like backpack sprayers best. Easier to keep
the tank pumped up, easier to get around as I am spraying, and the spraying
process just flows better. Last spring Costco had '4 gallon' Solo backpacks
for cheap money, I think $70. (Although the box said 4 gallon they were
really 3 gallon sprayers.) If you have the strength to repot orchids, you
should be able to handle the backpack, it does not need to be filled to
capacity. If you can not handle it, maybe you can get Frank to do the
spraying. If Frank does the spraying, you will owe him. If you are not
inclined to pay this debt, I have seen some very good battery powered
sprayers at shows being used to mist exhibits.

Pat