fed up with scale - Orchid Board

ericst11 · #1 07-01-2008, 01:14 AM

I'M sick of fighting these scale . I've tried neem oil /advid /wiping them down with alcohole and soap and physan and repoting them and useing a soilless medium .with just geolite ,dyna rock and paralite. I think its time to use malithion .doe's anyone have advice. thanks

Ray · #2 07-01-2008, 08:30 AM

You're apparently not killing the entire population.

Go to the store and get some concoction containing either imidicloprid (Merit) or acephate (Orthene), spray the entire plant and dunk the pot for about 15 minutes. Repeat the process at least 3 times at weekly intervals.

Malathion might be OK if used similarly, but the others are more modern technology and know to be effective.

Gin · #3 07-01-2008, 10:19 AM

Bayer Tree and shrub has imidicloprid in it ,a systemic ,think it is a teas. to a gallon of water Lowes has it .
I use Orthene WP have to order , it stinks but does the job also spray the tops with Safers or ? to get the ones that have hatched it takes awhile for the systemic to get in the plants system .They hatch try to eat

and die ! Gin

camille1585 · #4 07-01-2008, 11:00 AM

I have used malathion/parranifin oil combo with success. The oil in the product sticks better to the insects, unlike water based products. Our insect/disease expert at work recommends 3 treatments (every other day) in the case of severe infestations, and rinsing the plant in between. I never had bad infestations, so one treatement works for me.However I don't have much of a choice, since the 2 products Ray metioned are both illegal in France. Orthene was withdrawn years ago. The oil based malathion is the only product that works against scale, but it has been withdrawn from the market, I believe this spring. Amateurs now have no good anti scale products available in france!

I hope you get rid of those nasty creatures!

Gin · #5 07-01-2008, 01:28 PM

Do you have access to Ivermectin? it is an injectable cattle wormer also used for other animals if so here is some info. on it .
Avid .. aka. Ivermectin 1/2 teas. a gal .plus 1% Hort. oil . 7 days apart .
Gin

dougd · #6 07-01-2008, 01:45 PM

Try the inside-out perspective. I use Bonide Systemic time release insecticide. I sprinkle the granules on all my plants. As I water the insecticide is absorbed by the plants and keeps all the bugs away...including scale. I haven't had a problem (knock on wood) since I started with the Bonide brand.

Bonide

quiltergal · #7 07-01-2008, 04:56 PM

I have used Bonide as well and it has really worked well on the one plant that was severely infested. It's active ingredient is Imidacloprid. I used it in conjuction with the alcohol Q-Tip method. Since it's only one plant using the Q-Tip wasn't too bad.

Don Perusse · #8 07-02-2008, 10:51 AM

Thanks everyone for the info. I don't presently have a problem but IF I do I'll know what to do. I hope you clear your problem, ericst11.

(..._...) · #9 07-02-2008, 11:10 AM

I used to have it moderately bad, but since then, I have just washed the leaves with soap, and then picked off any scale I see.

That seems to work. Although I occasionaly see one or two on my phals.

orchids3 · #10 07-02-2008, 07:41 PM

Recently I tried Ultra Fine oil which is a parafinic oil. I sprayed my whole collection with a mix of 1 tbl spoon to a gallon of water. So far I am delighted with the results.
In Florida - using any oil when the temperature gets above 90 must be done with caution. Us it late in the evening after the sun goes down. My luck with Neem oil was not so good. It made burned spots on the leaves.