saw 1 adult mealy, how worried should we be?

[tmoney]

duuuuude, you guys aren’t making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

so, ok, time to get some need oil and horticultural soap. thanks fuerta for the cochineal suggestion, we will look for that as well.

also camille, would you be so kind as to pass along the new one you are trying? we will go the less toxic route thru this winter but if that doesn’t work then we might be in the market for some bigger guns

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by tmoney

also camille, would you be so kind as to pass along the new one you are trying? we will go the less toxic route thru this winter but if that doesn’t work then we might be in the market for some bigger guns

I'll have to go down to the basement to check the product label, but I think it's Sanium, from Protect Garden (Bayer).

I have a neem oil product that I'll try now and through the winter months.

A question about Neem and horticultural oil based products : can you drench/soak the pots in it? The horticultural oil stuff left a nasty oily coat on my plants, and I'm afraid of suffocating the roots with it...


Tmoney - if your plants are sitting in saucers, be sure to check the underside of them! I usually find many on the underside and under the lip of the saucer. Also check your grow area. I found them in the nooks and crannies of my shelves too. (And under sofa cushions, in my sewing box, in the box of orchid supplies under the shelves...)

[Fuerte Rav]

Originally Posted by camille1585

A question about Neem and horticultural oil based products : can you drench/soak the pots in it? The horticultural oil stuff left a nasty oily coat on my plants, and I'm afraid of suffocating the roots with it...

Hi Camille

I soak the pot/roots in water first so the roots are 'full'. I find using the neem oil and soap mix doesn't seem to cause any problems - no oily residue at all. And nice clean shiny leaves as a bonus.
I use 10ml hort soap + 5ml Neem oil to 1L lukewarm water and put it in a pressure sprayer. And fill the cache pot.

Warning: the only orchids I've used it on are Phals. No experience on other varieties.