Oncidiums with scale - Orchid Board

Rookie · #1 01-30-2012, 02:59 PM

I have two Oncidiums that both have a fairly bad scale outbreak. Is there any hope? I had been picking them off by hand but they are gaining on me. Any way to treat this? The Oncidiums, obviously have so many nooks and crannies that I fear the worst. Help if you can, please! Thanks!

Bud · #2 01-30-2012, 03:22 PM

spray the leaves with a mixture of:

10 drops dish soap
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract
2 cups tepid water

make sure that the plant is soaked dripping wet..then

use a butter knife, then a soft tooth brush to scrape them off the leaves but make sure the leaves are not scratched be very gentle...

make some more mix to soak the pot for five minutes to kill eggs in the media or better yet soak the plant in a basin of this mix while you are scraping the leaves off with the scales...this also kills mites...scales and mites go hand in hand on the leaves...they are the reddish colony that gives a sirupy substance on the leaves

repeat it again next week...give it a rest for two weeks then repeat the whole process again until you get rid of the scales

you can also use the mix to kill flies, cockroaches and mosquitos...they drop dead upon contact

this is a cheap home remedy
that works well for me

others resort to the big guns:
insecticides and chemical mixtures
it also works for them but be sure you do not have pets or kids around these chemicals

Rookie · #3 01-30-2012, 03:43 PM

Thanks Bud,

I appreciate your help. I am pleased to have a "natural remedy". I have a very spoiled Chihuahua I don't want to harm. Is the Cinnamon extract what you would get in a grocery store? Thanks so much!

Bud · #4 01-30-2012, 04:44 PM

you can find it in the aisle together with the vanilla and almond extract for desert making and baking...
I got the McKormick brand
* I also put a cinnamon stick inside the spray bottle

Rookie · #5 01-30-2012, 06:22 PM

Thanks so much again, Bud!!!!!!!!!

Vanda lover · #6 01-30-2012, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bud

spray the leaves with a mixture of:

10 drops dish soap
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract
2 cups tepid water

make sure that the plant is soaked dripping wet..then

use a butter knife, then a soft tooth brush to scrape them off the leaves but make sure the leaves are not scratched be very gentle...

make some more mix to soak the pot for five minutes to kill eggs in the media or better yet soak the plant in a basin of this mix while you are scraping the leaves off with the scales...this also kills mites...scales and mites go hand in hand on the leaves...they are the reddish colony that gives a sirupy substance on the leaves

repeat it again next week...give it a rest for two weeks then repeat the whole process again until you get rid of the scales

you can also use the mix to kill flies, cockroaches and mosquitos...they drop dead upon contact

this is a cheap home remedy
that works well for me

others resort to the big guns:
insecticides and chemical mixtures
it also works for them but be sure you do not have pets or kids around these chemicals

This is a great idea, Bud! It is much easier then the hot pepper garlic dish soap that I use.
I just looked up using cinnamon oil to kill dandruff, too. You mix it with olive oil. Since dandruff is a fungus, I figure it's worth a try.

Nancy

Bud · #7 01-30-2012, 07:27 PM

Nancy, its harder to find cinnamon oil in the supermarket aisle...but the extract, powder and the stick is way easier to find. And they are all used for orchid care.

Vanda lover · #8 01-30-2012, 10:16 PM

Hi Bud. I have the extract, so I'll use that. I haven't tracked down oil yet. I have been taking cinnamon and honey for arthritis, and also using cinnamon for my orchids whenever there is any rot. I have to say that after my arthritic symptoms have almost disappeared in about 3 years, I'll use it for anything that it might work on. It's a good thing I love the stuff anyway. I don't take it in large doses, just include it in my diet every day with raw honey. It works.

Bud · #9 01-31-2012, 12:18 AM

Thanks for the tip Nancy...
I am going to do research on arthritis..hopefully I dont get it.

cinnamon powder will desicate orchid roots, but making a paste with water wont harm the roots...thats how I also deal with cuts

Rookie · #10 01-31-2012, 01:14 AM

Thank you Nancy! I'm learning more here than Orchid care! I'm a holistic health type and am glad to have the information about the Cinnamon & Honey. I started hunting and read that if pure Ceylon Cinnamon is not used there is a substance in other Cinnamons (Coumarin) which can be very harmful to Kidneys and Liver. Also read that "active Manuka Honey" from New Zealand is the best to use. I have arthritis and will be starting on this regimen as soon as possible. Thanks again!