Effectiveness/safety of X-Clude insecticide?

[smweaver]

Has anyone used X-Clude brand insecticide? If so, can you share any feedback (positive or negative) regarding its effectiveness for use on orchids (primarily cattleyas)? I've now brought all of my orchids back into the sunroom to spend the winter after summering them outside. I was expecting a few invertebrate freeloaders tagging along, so it's not a big surprise for me to now be finding telltale bite marks on the tips of my orchids' roots. I've already put down slug/snail killer (which I refuse to use outside due to its toxicity to birds, amphibians, etc.). But I'd like to cover all my bases and am interested in finding something with relatively low toxicity, longevity and without bad side effects for the environment once the plants return to the outdoors next spring. X-Clude sounds like a good choice; however, never having used it before, I'd appreciate anyone's feedback who has had experience with this insecticide. Thank you.

Steve

[Becca]

Hi Steve, I was hoping to see some replies to this thread! Did you end up giving it a try?

[smweaver]

Well, Becca, I did end up buying a couple of cans of this product online. But so far I've been too much of a chicken to actually spray it on the plants. I haven't seen too many insects yet--mostly just hordes of ladybugs that are clinging to the screens in the sunroom and giving my house something of an Amityville Horror look. If I do find any insect infestations that I'm unable to get rid of by other (less poisonous) means, I'll definitely give the product a try--and report back whether the experience was either positive or negative.

Steve

[Becca]

I was thinking of trying to product as well, several members in my local orchid society rave over other brands containing the same main ingredient. I did read in another thread that the main ingredient is harmful to animals, just a warning if you have any. Here is the link to the article: Pyrethrin and Permethrin Toxicity in Dogs and Cats. I have cats, and while they can't get to the orchids in the orchidariums, the orchidariums are in the same room that the eat in. I guess I could always move their food bowls for a couple of days if I decide to try it.

[smweaver]

I currently don't have any animals, but if I did, I would not try this product. I would be mortified to find that I had inadvertently poisoned an animal--any animals for that matter, which is why I'm constantly on slug and snail patrol in the spring and summer months when the nasty mollusks are active and all of my plants are outdoors. I've been sorely tempted to get a metaldehyde (sp?) based slug killer, but I also see lots of toads hopping about, along with chipmunks and other residents of my yard that I really wouldn't want to harm. If you do use the pyrethrin/permethrin based insecticide in your orchidariums, I would very much like to know how it goes. Just be careful with your cats! My mom has a crazy siamese cat that looks very docile but has an uncanny (and unnerving) ability to get itself into trouble when no one's around.