Ready to wage war on spider mites

[LovePhals]

Misery loves company- so... I am fighting a HORRIBLE scale infestation on 2 of my cattleyas. I cannot get rid of the damn things!! I am almost to the point where I might throw them out if I can rid them before winter. I can't bring them in my house with my other orchids infested with scale. I am trying everything I can get my hands on and dousing them every few days. I am thinking neem oil may be starting to do the trick
I have gotten spider mites a few times. They like one particular dendrobium has gotten mites a few times. But, each time I have gotten rid of it pretty easily. I use Bayer 3 in 1 and it rids them.

[estación seca]

Agricultural oil kills scale and eggs. It is used on many deciduous fruit trees as a winter spray to kill all kinds of insect pests and their eggs. It is easily bought in garden centers. I don't know whether it is safe to use on orchids.

Also, if it's still pretty warm where you live, submerge the entire plant and pot in warm water with a little dish soap added to break the surface tension. This drowns any insects that can't escape and their eggs too. An entomologist friend told me several minutes should be enough. I use this on cacti I buy that arrive with mealy bugs and scale. I usually leave the plant in for several hours. I want to be sure I got them. Let the plant dry out completely after you remove it.

[bil]

Originally Posted by LovePhals

Misery loves company- so... I am fighting a HORRIBLE scale infestation on 2 of my cattleyas. I cannot get rid of the damn things!! I am almost to the point where I might throw them out if I can rid them before winter. I can't bring them in my house with my other orchids infested with scale. I am trying everything I can get my hands on and dousing them every few days. I am thinking neem oil may be starting to do the trick
I have gotten spider mites a few times. They like one particular dendrobium has gotten mites a few times. But, each time I have gotten rid of it pretty easily. I use Bayer 3 in 1 and it rids them.

I use confidor, or its generic (and way cheaper) equivalent.
The chem is Imacloporid, it's systemic, and when I had scale (the limpit like brown ones) it got rid of them tooty sweety.

It would be a shame to bin two catts when the problem cann be dealt with.