If it's a systemic like acephate (Orthene) or imidicloprid (Merit), it will
be absorbed with no damage to the plant.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"W. Clinton Terry" wrote in message
.. .
I had thought about that too. I have not dipped the whole plant as yet,
but if I do, I will figure out how to hold it upside down so that the roots
do not get immersed.

I have been also thinking about a systemic pesticide as thse critters seem
to be coming from the inside out. I do not know what the effect would be
on the roots, however.

Clinton
"Ray B" wrote in message
news:uaqmh.2476$NO5.1839@trndny01...
Mix one teaspoon each of cooking oil and liquid soap in a quart of water,
and spray the entire plant. The soap both emulsifies the oil and breaks
down the waxy coating on some insects, while the oil smothers them.

I recommend against immersing roots in oils, as the velamen can trap the
oil too well, potentially suffocating them.

--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"W. Clinton Terry" wrote in message
...
There is an orchid nursery near where I live and I have been developing
a relationship with them. You know, buy something and talk and talk and
talk. What they suggested, and I showed them the plant, was to take the
whole plant and immerse it in the oil spray I am using. I have not done
that because of the quantity I would have to mix up, but I may still. In
your case, wehre the insects are hard to get at, perhaps this is a
solution, particularly if you do not want to loose the plant.

"K Barrett" wrote in message
...
What I worry about is that some sort of small sucking insect is sucking
into the leaf and allowing the sap to drain out. I usually notice
small sappy droplets or dried sugar sap along the midrib or the edge of
the leaf. Sure enough if I turn the leaf over there'll be a scale on
the underside, or in a few days there'll be a scale at the leaf margin.
Sometimes my first indication of trouble is (like you did) by seeing
sappy 'spray' on the windowsill when I clean up the kitchen. (No
comments about my house cleaning, now! *G*) Then I'll have to treat the
plant with something or other until its gone.

Usually I'm one of those 'better living thru chemistry' kind of people.
I usually like to use some sort of a perticide in order to be sure. I
usually don't like just dabbing away with alcohol, because I believe
these are sly, conniving little critters that, just when you thik
they're gone, they come back, usually with a vengeance and in places
that are a real pain in the neck to get rid of them - like amongst the
roots or under the p/bulb sheathes. Talk about a pain!

But you are right. The sap comes practically from out of nowhere.
Then blammo! A few days later you see the adult and have to treat.
Slow going indeed. My paphs have mealy bug down in the bark, down
amongst the dried old leaves and along the roots and everytime I think
I have a handle on them they come back. Frustrating. I'm about to toss
the lot of them.

K Barrett
"W. Clinton Terry" wrote in message
.. .
This sticky stuff, if left along will eventually cover most of the
leaf. I first noted it because it had dripped onto tile floor. I was
walking around one day in bare feet. I hae not used malathion, but
have used the Ortho oil spray to smother them. The seem to come back.
I will try the alcohol. What has puzzled me is that the sap seems to
come from nowhere...from just a tiny pore in the leave. In any event,
it is very slow going.

Clinton


"K Barrett" wrote in message
. ..
I think there are 2 kinds of scale. The harder outer shell ones,
usually dark brown, and the softer whiter colored ones. (I think
these are called boisduvial scale). I believe the pattern of noticing
the sap with progression to later seeing the adults at the leaf edges
or in the leaf axils is pretty typical for these insects. Treat with
any pesticide that kills scale. I used to use Malathion, but I
believe that is slowly being pulled from the market (at least here in
California) I've used plain old 70% isopropyl alcohol and a
toothbrush, to kill the adults then wiped any suspect areas for the
next few weeks to be sure the eggs, larvae are gone, as long as it was
only one plant and isolated away from my main collection (like a phal
on the kitchen window insrtead of in the GH.) There are a few good
newer pesticides on the market (made by Bayer here in teh US) that
should kill them off, too. I confess when I look for those I have to
stand in the aisle at the nursery, seemingly for hours, reading the
small print until I find the one I want. Am I the only one or does
Bayer's product names all sound the same to everyone else, too?

K Barrett

"W. Clinton Terry" wrote in message
.. .
I have a couple of palenopsis that are secreting a sticky substance
from the middle of their leaves. It something like tree sap. If
left alone, eventually some scale like insects appear on the edge of
the leaves. There may be no relationship between these insects and
the secretion. Unlike other scale with which I am familiar, these
appear wet. When you crush them there is a lot of moisture involved.
Other scales I have seen and treated are dry and harder. Can anyone
give me an idea what is happening. I have sprayed with an Ortho Oil
spray to no avail.

Thanks for any assistance you might be able to provide.

Clinton Terry