View Single Post
  #17   Report Post  
Old 24-01-2007, 05:00 PM posted to rec.gardens.orchids
wendy7 wendy7 is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,013
Default The battle of the scale (not the diet kind)

Thanks for this info Pat & Gene, yes I have seen plenty of the dreaded Boisduval!
I had colour break & mutant looking flowers when I used a systemic call Cygon
a number of years ago. (No longer available)
Have used Ortho WP along with Neem. Have not tried the Bayer product?
I have been using Enstar II along with Mavrik & so far the best results
for me. I think the Mavrik is a topical treatment but the two are mixed together.
I mark & tag plants specially treated & document g/h sprays etc.

Now I am one that always experiments & have found that you have to keep on
a strict regimen forever or the buggers come back.
I have unpotted a scale infested plant, cleaned every bit of potting mix,
trimmed old roots etc., sprayed any visible bugs with alcohol, then left this
plant soaking in the Enstar/Mavrik solution over night & the next day there
were little white babies trying to escape. Unbelievable, the float & creep to
the sides of the bowl!!!
So my point being they are never gone.
Happy debugging,
--
Cheers Wendy

No Spam Email Address Invalid

Pat Brennan wrote:
Hi Gene,

You might find this site helpful.

http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/i...ine/Scale.html

Based on what is says, the timing seems right for the October outbreak
to be from eggs not killed. Not much will kill a bug in all the life
cycles.

I do not think you can assume you will get a years coverage from a
single spraying. The label you are reading was written for a seasonal
plant with seasonal bugs. Based on what I have seen assume 4 to 6
weeks.

I have used this chemical to fight fungus gnats. I talked with the
rep and he recommend monthly sprayings. The label tells you to limit
sprayings to 2 per growth cycle (I am doing this from memory so this
might not be exactly right). I was afraid that too much of a good
thing would lead to color breaks, so I never followed his advice and
followed the label limits. With three drenches you hit them pretty
hard; I am interested to know much color breaking you see in your
Phals this winter. Aug is a pretty safe month to be hitting Phals
with systemics so there is a good chance you will not see any.

Pat