I'm told that I have thrips. It doesn't effect every orchid in my
collection, but all effected are vandas. I have been told to use Safers Soap
and others have said Orthene. Any suggestions here? The effected plants are
not currently blooming, do I spray them now? Do I spray the entire
collection or jsut the effected ones or ones in the area of infection?

Even with this going on, I have two vandas that have always bloomed just
once a year. This year one has bloomed twice and other is putting out it's
third spike now.

Try alcohol. If the thrips are in the flower, and the infestation is not
heavy, you can use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and just touch the
buggers.

I don't see the bugs, but have had flowers deformed or not even open.
I was wondering if I sprayed, am I to spray my entire collection and with
what and how often ?
"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
news
Try alcohol. If the thrips are in the flower, and the infestation is not
heavy, you can use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and just touch the
buggers.

I have heard that you make a spray out of 2 Tsp. soap to a gallon of water
spray the heck out of the plants, but not the roots, repeat every 7 days for
3 weeks.
Doris

"bk" wrote in message
...
I don't see the bugs, but have had flowers deformed or not even open.
I was wondering if I sprayed, am I to spray my entire collection and with
what and how often ?
"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
news
Try alcohol. If the thrips are in the flower, and the infestation is
not
heavy, you can use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol and just touch the
buggers.

There are lots of variations on that natural remedy. I still like some
alcohol in the mix, though. And, thrips can be hard to see with the naked
eye. To see if you have them, use a magnifying glass, looking especially at
the flowers and buds. They look like thin black worms. Very small, very
thin, have a way of twisting when they move.

For more on natural remedies, go to

http://www.firstrays.com

buy a small can of metered fly spray
and give the plant a couple of mists a day till the thirps are all gone

here is a link to what I am talking about

http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page770.html

http://www.greenfire.net/hot/P401.html

this is a natural pyrethrum mix it comes from the chrysanthemum flower

here are some more

http://www.altgarden.com/site/pestco...cs/purge3.html

http://www.veatchchemical.com/itm00046.htm
http://www.gtghydroponics.com/store/...escription.htm


you all might find some good resorces on this page

http://www.bugsout.com/flies.html


"bk" wrote in message
...
I'm told that I have thrips. It doesn't effect every orchid in my
collection, but all effected are vandas. I have been told to use Safers
Soap
and others have said Orthene. Any suggestions here? The effected plants
are
not currently blooming, do I spray them now? Do I spray the entire
collection or jsut the effected ones or ones in the area of infection?

Even with this going on, I have two vandas that have always bloomed just
once a year. This year one has bloomed twice and other is putting out it's
third spike now.