This is why you don't spray insecticidal soap on buds

[LizB88]

Hello everyone,

I have being having difficulty keeping up with the care of my plants do to looking after elders in my family. Any ways, a few weeks back I notice the small sings of spider mites on some of my dens, so I clean them up and decided to do a systemic spray to keep them from my other plants. Well this one catt was in bud and they got sprayed, by the time I notice it was too late. I hoped for the best, well needless to day, I lost 3 buds after I sprayed them and the one that survived looks like this.

Here is a small pic of why you should not spray insecticidal soap on your plants when the bud is closed, or on the flowers for that matter.

The one good thing is, no sings of spider mites anywhere.

[Leafmite]

Sorry you lost most of the flowers.

[silken]

That's too bad about your blooms. Remember to treat again in a week or so as eggs may be hatching.

[terracotta7]

Sorry to hear about the loss of buds! Hopefully the whole orchid will be healthier for your treatment and will give you some more beautiful blooms very soon!

I am with you on the elder-care...Hang in there!

[LizB88]

Originally Posted by silken

That's too bad about your blooms. Remember to treat again in a week or so as eggs may be hatching.

Yes, I was sad, and I have kept up with the systemic treatment and I had no sings of pest in 3 weeks, so keeping fingers cross, and eyes open.

---------- Post added at 11:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:25 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Sorry you lost most of the flowers.

Thanks, this is how we learn

---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------

Originally Posted by terracotta7

Sorry to hear about the loss of buds! Hopefully the whole orchid will be healthier for your treatment and will give you some more beautiful blooms very soon!

I am with you on the elder-care...Hang in there!

Thanks for the sympathy, this orchid is faithful bloomer and is very healthy. Thank goodness that the plants I have lost had to do with my lack of knowledge. And my collection is fairly healthy. I just did not want to take a chance in having eggs hash on other plants and get a really big infestation.

Next time I need to be more careful in not spraying the buds if there are any.

And as you know elder care is hard, I even contemplated re-homing my chids, that thought only lasted a second, then I realized that no matter how tired I am or how early I have to get up to water them, that I still enjoy the time I spend with them, and look forward to discovering a new bloom

[estación seca]

I wonder whether the damage could have been from the spider mites, and not the soap?

[MrHappyRotter]

Sorry about the flower damage.

I haven't personally encountered any floral / bud damage from using things like Safer soap, though I don't specifically recall ever having sprayed flowers with it. I'll keep it in mind whenever I spray with the stuff.

From first hand experience, I do know that some of the other natural/organic pest & disease control options like Neem and cinnamon spray can damage plants if overused or mixed too strongly. It's definitely a balancing act to get things right. Even when it's routine, I've managed to mess it up a few times.

[Orchid Whisperer]

Sorry for the damage to your blooms!

I was just curious - you mentioned insecticidal soap as a systemic control. Most insecticidal soaps that I know about rely on contact in order to achieve insect control. Is there a new kind that offers systemic control?

[LizB88]

Originally Posted by estación seca

I wonder whether the damage could have been from the spider mites, and not the soap?

Could be, Although I did not see any spider mites on any of my Catts, that does not mean they were not there.

I use Ortho elementals insecticidal soap, and the label does warn against spraying buds and blooms. So my bad.

---------- Post added at 07:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:51 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Sorry for the damage to your blooms!

I was just curious - you mentioned insecticidal soap as a systemic control. Most insecticidal soaps that I know about rely on contact in order to achieve insect control. Is there a new kind that offers systemic control?

I meant to say as a preventive method not necessarily systemic,in case the little buggers had move to more plants than I could see.

For the most part I use BioCare Aphid and white fly traps and BioCare Springstar Ladybug lure and this keeps my garden pest free for the most part. And when I do have to spray, I use Ortho elementals insecticidal soap, this sprays does not irritate my skin if I get it on by accident, I find others to be very irritating to my skin, although I use gloves, I don't always manage to keep strays from getting on my skin.

With the extended drought and heat we are having, it seems that I see a lot more critters. Or it may just be a combination of not spending as much time with my plants and the dry weather.

[estación seca]

If the products you're using are harsh on your skin, try dishwashing soap.I find it works well on aphids and spider mites.