Bioadvanced 3 in 1 application

[KatieM]

Hello there fellow orchid lovers. It's been awhile. Lots of blooms to be posted later on. Currently however not only are the dreaded mealybugs starting to show up but some spider mites as well. I've done the "natural" route for years, I've done a systemic (in granular form which I know mostly washes through). I've seen a few different comments recommending bioadvanced 3 in 1. It's time to bring out the big guns. My questions are:

1.) Do you water it in, spray it on, or both? I'd love to avoid spraying it on all my pretty blooms but if the mites get them they won't be pretty either way.

2.) Has anyone noticed any orchids that seem to be more sensitive to this product? I grow a large variety from phals and catts to ctstm, once, den, even a masde and mltps or 2, paphs and phrags. My vandas seem fine so I won't treat them unless I need to down the road.

3.) I know our little pests can build up immunity. Do you treat when you see them or preventatively and if preventatively how often?

Any other tips or advice are much appreciated. Again I am familiar with the natural remedies. Thanks in advance!

[estación seca]

Is this outdoors or in? You can control bugs indoors but outdoors you're at the mercy of your neighbors.

Spider mites tend to target leaves, not flowers. Maybe you have thrips? They are present in Florida. Spider mites like warm, dry weather. If it's raining a lot or very humid you're less likely to have problems with spider mites.

Preventative treatment means you yourself are developing resistant bugs. I think it's a bad idea, and it's better to wait until you need to treat.

If you're talking about outdoors, first figure out what bugs you want to treat. Then use a product that kills those bugs.

It's better not to use the same treatment repeatedly. Rotate treatments to reduce pests becoming resistant.

[Roberta]

I keep some of the stuff in a spray bottle, spray on flowers when I see thrips (I hate thrips!!) And have seen no problem with flowers of any genus. On the other hand, thrips trash flowers! I'd spray it on leaves, especially the undersides without hesitation. And give the medium a good bath, both to nail the current critters and maybe have some systemic effect. The systemic route is going to be slow, eventually could have good effect but not quickly since orchids grow so slowly.
When you dilute that 3-in-1 in your spray bottle, add a drop or two of dish soap. Once full, give a good shake. (fill mostly before shaking or you'll be fighting suds) It helps to coat surfaces, and also may help to coat the beasts and raise effectiveness.

I totally agree with ES. No prophylactic treatment, it just increases the odds of developing resistance. I can't speak to the effectiveness against mites, that's not the problem I have. But I do know that it doesn't hurt flowers. But don't treat until you know what you're treating.

[KatieM]

Thank you both for the info! All right will definitely only treat once I see them and not go the preventative route. Unfortunately it is actually spider-mites not thrips (I could have thrips as well, but have visually seen the mites). I'll try to snap a picture of one of the tiny buggers when I see it. For whatever reason, my area is actually prone to spider-mites, particularly this time of year when we transition into our dryer season.

I'm treating outside but the main area is actually in a screen enclosure. They still obviously get under the door or ride on on a newly acquired orchid.

Will spray and water. Roberta, do you use the recommended dilution ratio on the bottle? Will definitely add the dish soap. Glad to know your orchids don't see any adverse effects. Thank you!

[Roberta]

I have the older product Bayer Advanced 3 in 1 (that has imidacloprid in it) but I expect that the newer product BioAdvanced is likely to be similar. They unfortunately bury the dilution instructions deep in the pamphlet attached to the bottle... On mine, the dilution is 5 1/4 tablespoons in 1 gallon (which is close to 16 teaspoons) so if you have a quart spray bottle, you'd use 4 teaspoons for a quart of water. (not exact, close enough). I'm assuming that you have the concentrate, they do have a "ready to spray" version where you're buying a lot of water.

[KatieM]

Believe it or not on the new bottles they have the dilution instructions right in the back! Which is good because something must have leaked on my bottle and ruined the rest. Yes same instructions and bought the concentrate. As always thank you for your guidance. Fingers crossed this will take care of things.....for a while anyway. I gave them a good spray this evening. Will give them a bath tomorrow. Is there a specific product brand/ type you alternate with?

[Roberta]

Fortunately, where I live, the bug problems aren't bad so I don't need to use much in the way of pesticides. The main victims of spider mites are the Catasetinae... when it's late season I mostly don't bother because they're going to lose their leaves anyway. But if I do see a spidermite issue earlier in the season, actually my go-to is bifenthrin - it's listed for termites, but is a miticide for other mites too. I have never had a problem where I needed repeat applications. I think my quart bottle will last much longer than I will. But, again, my problems were never particularly bad. I spray it on the undersides of leaves, which is where spider mites mostly hang out. And my plants aren't in the house, so I don't have toxicity issues in my living space.

[KatieM]

I will keep the bifenthrin in mind as an alternative. Thank you! Yes they do love to munch on my ctstm in the fall but I'm like you. As long as they aren't getting into my others I let them go. Fingers crossed this will work and if I have some thrips it'll get them too..I'll investigate those further tomorrow. Those are more prone to my orchids on my front porch. No screen up there.

[Gardening in WM]

I don't know if you watch nature nel but he brought out a video on the subject, can be a bit glitchy as he experimented filming this video live with a satelite internet connection, they talk about bayer 3 in 1 at the 19 minute to 21 minute mark, the rest is about other insecticides

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbT11GFfJTQ&t=2551s

[KatieM]

This is awesome! Thank you! I do not but I will follow them now and watch the video in its entirety. Insecticides are all new to me but something I'm finding I'm going to need now and then so definitely up for any and all information. Thanks again so much!