Starting around month+ before the orchids come inside, I do a couple or three insecticide treatments at 7-10 day intervals. I like to have a week to 10 days between the last treatment and their return to the house. If I can get that interval...some years I've only had a couple of days because of bad timing on my part.
It usually takes me a good 2-3 days to bring everything inside (full days!)...as I'm bringing everything inside I do a thorough check over the plants for any hitchhikers. I pay special attention to any plants that have experienced pests at any point during the summer. If I find something, that plant gets put aside and will get hit again (along w/any others that I find something) and it stays outside a couple more days.
Once inside though...I still watch everything like a hawk because the windows are open and it never fails that I still have some issues w/spider mites and scale but catching it early keeps it from getting out of control. I swear the Ctsm must have homing beacons on them that call the spider mites from miles away...never fails...I find them every fall.
How do you clean your plant before bring them inside the house?
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