Treating for diseases and pests in the house during winter

[Leafmite]

I am not opposed to using pesticides or fungicides (Used Malathion and Captan on the fruit trees for many years) but I always follow the guidelines when I use products on my plants and do further research. If a pesticide is not recommended for indoor use, please do not use them indoors. Those that sell fungicides and pesticides do quite a bit of testing of their products and, though they would love to tell you that their products are 100% safe, they issue those guidelines for your protection.

If you are having fungus issues, use more Calcium. It will not help older growth but the newer growth will be more able to resist fungus issues. Neem oil also controls fungus issues.

Pests are a bit more difficult. This year, I bought a bunch of organic insecticidal soap and Neem Oil but I am currently trying food-grade Diatomaceous Earth. If the DE doesn't work, I am going to wash the plants off with soap and water, then spray with the Insecticidal soap for three weeks. A new one is spinosad being used as a pesticide. Here is a fact sheet:

Spinosad General Fact Sheet

[thefish1337]

I've had good to great results with spinosad for thrips and fungus gnats. Does not seem to work well on aphids, scale, may work on mites. In fact, of all the things I've tried its been most effective on thrips.

[MJG]

The more I think about this and read the feedback, the more I think it's a really bad idea to use anything toxic indoors. When I use this stuff outside I wear glasses, long pants, gloves and a mask. What would be the logic of spraying anywhere in my house when I am so wary of these chemicals outside?

I appreciate your feedback and suggestions. Keep them coming please. Lots of great ideas here

[realoldbeachbum]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

Pests are a bit more difficult. This year, I bought a bunch of organic insecticidal soap and Neem Oil but I am currently trying food-grade Diatomaceous Earth. If the DE doesn't work, I am going to wash the plants off with soap and water, then spray with the Insecticidal soap for three weeks. A new one is spinosad being used as a pesticide. Here is a fact sheet:

Spinosad General Fact Sheet

My first pest outbreak: This morning I noticed the under sides of two paphs (and several nearby houseplants) have spots that look like black pepper and the top sides have thin silver trails wiggling up and down the leaves.

From information on the St. Augustine Pest Site, it appears that I have an infestation of either Thrips or Mites.

I isolated the plants and sprayed them with an Espoma Insect Control that I had on hand. The label claims to kill both pests.

My question: Is there a systemic drench that I can put in the water to prevent this from spreading to my other 92 orchids? (Yes, I am looking for an easy solution!) If not a systemic drench, is there a spray that I can just coat all the plants?

I grow in a basement with outside door and no connectivity to the rest of the house. I would be able to take them outside and spray them down if necessary, but that WOULD BE A LOT OF WORK!

LM – Did the Dia Earth work? What about the Spinosad?
All advice is GREATLY appreciated.

[Girl_With_An_Orchid]

I’m curious about this as well. After several years of orchid owning I finally have my first infestation: scale. Most likely brown scale. I just had aphids on a pepper plant and used a soap based pesticide and it killed the whole thing. I’m was going to try the method 1 pps but I don’t think it’s available in stores. What has been most successful for people for scale? I’ve been having such great success lately. I really don’t want to hurt my babies!

[Leafmite]

D.E. did not really work on the scale or mealy bugs. I washed all the plants well every time I saw the mealy bugs flare up, waited until the plants dried, then drenched them in insecticidal soap that day and a few days later and, again, a week later but they would always make a quick, explosive return. They are immune to systemic so that was no help.

What I am trying this year....
This spring, I tossed any plants that had repeating mealy bug issues. Hopefully, this will help break the cycle.
The pests leave the passionfruit alone so I planted my new jasmine in a community pot with them and the pot is near the rooted Artemisia absinthium cutting I made this spring. I have the citrus and jasmine separated by geraniums (nothing seems to bother those, either).
I am trying to see if coffee grounds are indeed a systemic.
I inspect all my plants every few days so that if I see mealy bugs, I can, hopefully, treat the plants right away.