Scale pesticide: back to the drawing board.

[BrassavolaStars]

Originally Posted by Dimples

If you explain that it’s a detached greenhouse (typically qualifies as a “temporary structure”) they may still be able to service your space. They may just have you sign a few wavers so their butts are covered.

---------- Post added at 11:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 AM ----------

At this point, “breaking and entering” the backyard to add some mosquito fish to the pool would be the easiest solution.

California has a free mosquito fish program where they supply local aquarium stores, pond retailers, basically anybody that already keeps fish alive as part of their business, and they agree to give them out for free. I almost always end up buying something when I get fish, so it’s a win-win for everyone. Maybe your state does too?

---------- Post added at 11:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 AM ----------

Or sneak in and toss a mosquito dunk in once a month?

I will ask about detached structures. Who is the type of person I would apply for service this kind of pesticide spraying service for orchids?

On the mosquito note, the family of the woman who used to live there lives a fair distance away and gave us permission to throw in mosquito dunks. I don’t know how they would feel about fish though. We have thrown dunks in a few times, but it doesn’t seem to be sufficient. There is water that has collected on the pool cover and I presume, in the pool. Last time I checked it looked like a pond and was full of vegetation and algae.

I just wouldn’t want to cause the family of the deceased any trouble or get the county involved just because they are truly very nice people. The woman who used to live in the house was also a very nice person. She lived there until she passed away a few months ago when she was in the upper 90s. Everyone in the neighborhood was quite sad to hear this as she was very well-liked. The family still comes to check on the place when they can. They also never complained about the various states of disrepair my yard has been in over the years and many times, it was pretty awful.

I also think it is not entirely their fault also as I have had mosquito problems for a long time. They just got exponentially worse.

Thank you again and I will keep everyone posted on the scale.

[estación seca]

Permitting a mosquito breeding ground is the same thing as leaving loaded weapons out where children can get them. There is high risk of transmitting fatal viral diseases. Your neighbors are not being neighborly. They are being negligent and potentially harming people. They have a duty not to do that. Please call your county health department and tell them of the situation.

[Dimples]

I agree. Doing nothing is the most harmful option in this situation.

As for the pesticide application, out here I’d be calling up any reputable professional pest control company, explain your situation, and ask. If your state laws allow it, you’ll probably have more luck with small, independent or self-owned companies. Big corporate companies are likely to say no out of policy for stupid clerical reasons.

[Ray]

The acephate 97UP is a water-dispersible powder in elongated prills. It is systemic/translaminar, and contains an odorant that is present while it is still wet, as an indicator to stay away.

Use 1 teaspoon/gallon and wet every exposed surface to dripping AND drench the potting medium. Repeat two additional times at 7-10 day intervals.

[KatieM]

I live in Florida (aka mosquitoland) near a preserve and have a horrible time with mosquitos. After decades of trying everything under the sun somone recommended Palmer's Coconut Oil body lotion to me. As odd as it sounds it actually really helps, and it's nice to not have the whole bugspray chemical smell going. Hopefully your dunks will help lessen the population, but in the meantime, run to Walmart or Target and try some of that lotion. It has to be the coconut oil formula. Attaching a pic for reference.

In regards to the scale, I just received a den with scale and it's my first ecounter with it so I'll be following along here to see what works! Best of luck!

[Maryanne]

Hi -
in regard to malathion...i have tried over the years to keep a low-risk spray approach to controlling scale, mealy bugs, and the other pests. To some extent Neem, alcohol/soap spray and other mild concoctions DO work. But - when I simply 'had it' with re-occurrenses of scale this last spring, I ordered my husband to spray all the orchids when moved outside. He already had the sprayer loaded for the fruit trees (note we lost all peaches due to the last freeze) so it was easy enough to do. He wears a tyvek suit for spraying. Yes, we'd like to go organic, but in our area it is next to impossible to control for pests on apples, pears, etc. A couple of rounds of malathion on the orchids a couple of weeks apart brought the scale, and other pests under control. All the plants were outside away from the house and vegetable garden, and sprayed on a calm day - no breeze. A trip to a farm supply store may have selections of garden sprays that are effective and not harmful to orchids. If it comes throwing out a whole collection of orchids vs. spraying a few times with malathion, I'm choosing save the orchids with judicious pest control. Good luck to you all.
Maryanne

[BrassavolaStars]

They forgot to pull this off the shelves in my local store. Will it work? It says citrus and nut trees. How would I use it?

Access Denied

[Dimples]

Originally Posted by Maryanne

Hi -
in regard to malathion...i have tried over the years to keep a low-risk spray approach to controlling scale, mealy bugs, and the other pests. To some extent Neem, alcohol/soap spray and other mild concoctions DO work. But - when I simply 'had it' with re-occurrenses of scale this last spring, I ordered my husband to spray all the orchids when moved outside. He already had the sprayer loaded for the fruit trees (note we lost all peaches due to the last freeze) so it was easy enough to do. He wears a tyvek suit for spraying. Yes, we'd like to go organic, but in our area it is next to impossible to control for pests on apples, pears, etc. A couple of rounds of malathion on the orchids a couple of weeks apart brought the scale, and other pests under control. All the plants were outside away from the house and vegetable garden, and sprayed on a calm day - no breeze. A trip to a farm supply store may have selections of garden sprays that are effective and not harmful to orchids. If it comes throwing out a whole collection of orchids vs. spraying a few times with malathion, I'm choosing save the orchids with judicious pest control. Good luck to you all.
Maryanne

As a retired organic farmer, even I know there are situations that REQUIRE the use of conventional products, or the only alternative is destroying the plant/animal. I have a few of the more mild conventional pesticides on hand for my indoor plants.

There are still a lot of diseases (especially diseases) and pests that there just isn’t a good organically-allowable treatment/preventative for because they haven’t been invented/discovered or because the only known effective organic option is just too harmful for any type of safe use.

There is even a VERY short list of allowable synthetic materials (mostly in the livestock category) that can be used in organic production because there is no naturally sourced alternative and the ethical considerations for animal welfare would prevent them from being raised organically without the synthetic materials. So, without a few synthetic materials, commercial organic meat/animal products would not exist in the US at all.

It’s all about the balance.

[Keysguy]

My personal experience is that scale is the most difficult pest for me to control. But it can be done successfully. It's just very labor intensive.

The typical scale I run into are the little buggers under the shell. That shell covering really protects them from any kind of spray unless you physically remove the shell.

I have the most success with alcohol, a toothbrush and good 'ole elbow grease. When initially diagnosed, remove the plant from the pot and treat any scale you find on the roots first. Just dunk the toothbrush in the alcohol and start scrubbing. Then move on to the rest of the plant while you have it unpotted so you can turn it any direction you need to to closely inspect and treat every nook and cranny. After 1 treatment, you should be able to re-pot right away. Segregate the plant so you can closely inspect it daily. If you see a new pop-up, nail it immediately.

I have had really good success this way. You have to stay at it but I have several specimen plants that used to have a scale issue that are now several seasons free of scale.

Good luck!