Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Biting the Bullet on Pesticides...Opinions, Please
Humm.... we're still talking about scale I assume?
"V_coerulea" wrote in message ... Enstar doesn't hit the adults who can live their normal lives (provided something else in the spray doesn't affect them). That's the reason for the knockdown. Knockdown the adults, no more eggs. No more eggs means fewer sprays to regulate juveniles. To knockdown, I use Orthene or diazinon (preferably Orthene). Gary "Jerry Hoffmeister" wrote in message news:HyISa.96444$GL4.27096@rwcrnsc53... Makes sense - so what do u use to knock them down? Although this time at least, I already started w/ Enstar. "V_coerulea" wrote in message .. . I agree with the Enstar as I mentionned above. But I think the whole process of bringing things under control is helped by something that helps knock down the adult population first. Then bring on the guns that prevent any more from maturing. Gary "Ray" wrote in message ... You might want to consider Enstar II, as it's an insect growth regulator rather than killer. No maturation = no more bugs. No impact on other critters or the environment. I have used it mixed with neem oil with great success. -- Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com Plants, Supplies, Books, Artwork, and Lots of Free Info! . . . . . . . . . . . "V_coerulea" wrote in message .. . I recently had an outbreak of cattleya scale which can devestate seedlings in a heatbeat and bring the big ones down without much trouble (an d not just cattleyas). There were also a few mealies around. I hit everything with Orthene twice, 6 days apart, first time as a spray and drench, 2nd time just spray. I followed up with Enstar II twice at control doses and again with a preventative dose. I haven't seen any signs of infestation in 3 weeks -X (fingers crossed). You can imagine how long this took for several thousand plants. But at that point, what was the alternative? I know from now on that all new plants, especially trades, get treated and isolated for several weeks before joining the collection. This had been my general policy prior to the infestation. I got lax. My fault. A reminder every-so-often is necessary for some of us to get back on track. I had a bunch of trouble a number of years ago with scale and mealies prior to "ant-proofing" the greenhouse. Sealed and screened pretty tightly, the greenhouse gets some spray around doors but usually that's about it. As for the anoles, I know I lose some when I have to spray. But judging by the number of little ones around a lot of eggs are in protected sand somewhere that keep popping out. They're pretty good survivors. Best of luck. Hope this helps some. Gary "Diana Kulaga" wrote in message hlink.net... Hi, Gang, Thus far, I've never had what I would call a *serious* pest problem. That seems to have changed. I've been spotting mealies around the Phals and on some other plants. I pulled an ailing Phal out of its pot and found the roots infested with the things. Since, I've been repotting Phals like crazy. And finding scale. Normally, I use straight alcohol, or, for scale, alcohol/soap/oil. Both are effective. Now, however, I'm afraid I need to do something more, before the whole collection has problems (found more scale today, on a couple of Angraecums). Today I picked up Malathion at HD, and on my way to the register found a product called Organocide, which advertises itself as a pesticide/fungicide, and which is comprised of 5% sesame oil, 92% edible fish oil, and 3% lecithin. I bought both products. It's not that I'm completely averse to using chemicals (the Malathion), but like anyone else I'd rather avoid it if possible. Also, swarms of geckos reside in the lanai where most of the plants are, and I don't want to injure the beneficial little guys if I can help it. So my question has to do with the effectiveness of the Organocide, and also if I use Malathion can I water it through the medium? I need to do something very soon; case by case isn't cutting it. Anyone? Ah, I guess I'm just looking for a little reinforcement. Come Monday morning I'll probably bomb the place with Malathion. Diana |
Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
ot Mandarin and bullet trains | Gardening | |||
RE;(IBC) I bit the bullet | Bonsai | |||
[IBC] I bit the bullet | Bonsai | |||
RE;(IBC) I bit the bullet | Bonsai | |||
Dodged a bullet...maybe | Ponds |