Listerine as a bug killer?

[Spirytman]

Hi everyone, a year ago I saw a YouTube video where an orchid grower used listerine on his plant to remove bacteria and fungus as well as kill bugs. I was skeptical at first since I had never heard such a thing, but I have been using listerine for about 6 months now and I can say it really helps keep the bugs in Check. Has anyone else had this experience ?

[PaphMadMan]

I haven't tried Listerine, but I'm not surprised it might be effective on soft bodied pests, mealybugs, thrips, slugs, maybe kill some eggs.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

[desertanimal]

It's recommended to use in your re-hydrating solution when you want to pin dried butterflies as an anti-fungal (mold).

[lotis146]

Well I've always thought that burn meant it was working though I have heard, dentally speaking, it can kill a little too much. So I'm curious about this but I haven't tried it. It would be nice if it works on bugs and more, anything I can use indoors without risk to myself or my birds whenever I need to is a God send.

Have you just been using it straight? No signs of damage on any plants? How do you use it? If there's Listerine on the plant can it then be put in the sun without added harm?

Thanks for sharing.

[cbuchman]

Yes, you can use Listerine, but only the original formula (the brown one). You can also use rubbing alcohol.

for bugs, I spray with a mixture of 25% rubbing alcohol with a few drops of peppermint soap as a surfactant. You can use any kind of liquid soap, I just like the way it smells.

[bil]

Originally Posted by lotis146

Well I've always thought that burn meant it was working though I have heard, dentally speaking, it can kill a little too much. So I'm curious about this but I haven't tried it. It would be nice if it works on bugs and more, anything I can use indoors without risk to myself or my birds whenever I need to is a God send.

Have you just been using it straight? No signs of damage on any plants? How do you use it? If there's Listerine on the plant can it then be put in the sun without added harm?

Thanks for sharing.

Confidor or its generic forms are a godsend. Imacloporid is the chemical name. It kills anything that feeds on the plant.

[maelstrom mike]

Doesn't the large amount of alcohol have a detrimental effect over time? What kind of alcohol is in listerine anyways? Their website just says "alcohol." What kind of application amount and interval are we talking about here?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Any alcohol used orally would need to be ethanol.

[maelstrom mike]

Obviously I did not pay much attention during organic chemistry... or applied plant physiology. I did remember that ethanol is a product during anaerobic respiration, which made me wonder if it was toxic. Apparently it is not so toxic on its own from what I can find. However, when combined with acetaldehyde (ethanal) it can be quite toxic. So as long as you're not watering with listerine, I would assume it should be fine. I might have to try this out sometime.

[Spirytman]

I've been using listerine on my plants in a spray bottle. As not to overdo it. It's been about 6 months and I have no noticeable problems from it. Plants are growing and blooming same as always. But it kills the springtails and fungus gnats fairly quickly.