Is this a disease?

[Shadeflower]

yeah.

ps I hope it is something harmless.

I discovered a thrip outbreak a couple months ago - my ports of paradise is suffering the most, for some reason that plant is irresitible.

5 times in 6 weeks I have washed it, submerged it and sprayed it with pesticides.

5 times they have come back so far.

So I really hope for your sake it is anything but! Unfortunately those are also the symptoms that thrips leave behind but hope it isn't them .

[WaterWitchin]

Have you tried a systemic insecticide ShadeFlower? i.e., bifenthrin, imidacloprid, or spinosad?

[Shadeflower]

might have to WW.
I've never heard of those before, I tried getting something stronger last week but as mentioned....

supply issues.

I have washed every single pot that had thrips by now but if I spot one more then I will look into those thanks.

Edit: they are a pain but spinosad which has got amazing reviews against thrips is £55 here!

I'd rather wash my plants one more time than go and spend that. Sorry for hijacking thread.

Just sharing my frustration with unknown brown spots on our plants

[WaterWitchin]

If you have thrips, I'd highly recommend a systemic. Otherwise you'll fight those little buggers forever. I think you need to repeat X number of times for X weeks or months, but someone with more knowledge than I will need to tell you.

So fungicides and insecticides are an issue on y'alls supply chain right now? I guess it's better than a toilet paper shortage... maybe.

---------- Post added at 08:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 AM ----------

PS Still think original poster's issue is fungal. But for your thrip issue...

---------- Post added at 09:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

imidacloprid is very effective, and should be cheaper.

[Pagan princess]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

If you have thrips, I'd highly recommend a systemic. Otherwise you'll fight those little buggers forever. I think you need to repeat X number of times for X weeks or months, but someone with more knowledge than I will need to tell you.

So fungicides and insecticides are an issue on y'alls supply chain right now? I guess it's better than a toilet paper shortage... maybe.

---------- Post added at 08:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 AM ----------

PS Still think original poster's issue is fungal. But for your thrip issue...

---------- Post added at 09:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 AM ----------

imidacloprid is very effective, and should be cheaper.

I think I'd rather save my plant than wipe my bum.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

might have to WW.
I've never heard of those before, I tried getting something stronger last week but as mentioned....

supply issues.

I have washed every single pot that had thrips by now but if I spot one more then I will look into those thanks.

Edit: they are a pain but spinosad which has got amazing reviews against thrips is £55 here!

I'd rather wash my plants one more time than go and spend that. Sorry for hijacking thread.

Just sharing my frustration with unknown brown spots on our plants

It seems you just spent much more than that on new plants. I would think your plants would be at least that valuable. And there are other insecticides available that would cost less.
Here's one:
Neudorff BugFree Bug and Larvae Killer, 750 ml : Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors

[WaterWitchin]

Pyrethrines and a systemic aren't in the same ballpark Dusty... I'm talkin' getting RID of them, not harassing them.

[Dusty Ol' Man]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Pyrethrines and a systemic aren't in the same ballpark Dusty... I'm talkin' getting RID of them, not harassing them.

Yeah, well, some people think 'harass' is my middle name!

Edit to add: that link came up when I was searching for the named systemics in the UK. I didn't read beyond availability.

[Fuerte Rav]

Originally Posted by Shadeflower

might have to WW.
I've never heard of those before, I tried getting something stronger last week but as mentioned....

supply issues.

I have washed every single pot that had thrips by now but if I spot one more then I will look into those thanks.

Edit: they are a pain but spinosad which has got amazing reviews against thrips is £55 here!

I'd rather wash my plants one more time than go and spend that. Sorry for hijacking thread.

Just sharing my frustration with unknown brown spots on our plants

Have you tried BugClear Ultra? I used to buy it in B & Q.

[Roberta]

Sometimes you have to spend the big money to buy the big guns. Thrips where I live are apparently much more mild-mannered than the ones in the UK, damage flowers but not the plants. My nemesis is scale, especially on Catts. To knock that down, I had to invest in a bottle of Safari granules to the tune of about $120. But it goes a looong way, and when I sprinkle a bit on the surface of the pot (as opposed to diluting in water and spraying) it seems to get absorbed better, and often it knocks the scale down in one application; occasionally I'll repeat in 6 months, then don't need it any more. I don't think it is that useful for the kind of thrips that I have, I doubt that much gets into the flowers. Since it is very local in its application, no danger of it getting onto other plants - the stuff is really bad for bees, but bees don't suck the juices of Cattleya pseudobulbs.