Dealing with orchid pests on a broader scale

[ArronOB]

Hi. I’m wondering if there is a cheap and environmentally safe way to deal with big old orchid plants growing outdoors.

A bit of background.

I have a collection of orchids growing in a small shade house and I fuss over them in the same way as most of us here. When they get scale (common) or mealy bugs (rare) I go over them with a cotton bud dipped in alcohol.

I also have a number of big, old orchids growing in baskets hanging year-round in the back yard. These are mostly hardy species like Laelia anceps, Stanhopeas, Coelongynae and a few Oncidium types. There are also bromeliads. They get almost no care and both the orchids and broms have a lot of scale, which doesn’t seem to slow them down any so it’s never really worried me. Now I’m thinking they may be acting as a reservoir for reinfestation of the cherished ones in the shadehouse somehow.

So is there a way to treat the big, old plants which is cost effective and not too time consuming.I don’t mind if a bit of damage is done (they’ll recover). I don’t want to use a Neonicotinoid outside, and anyway our local shops don’t seem to stock them now.

I use a product called ‘Eco-oil’ on our fruit trees for sap-sucking pest species. It’s this Multicrop 3L EcoPest Oil | Bunnings Warehouse. Should I use that on the outdoor orchids ??

Thanks
Arron