Chemicals, pesticides, insecticides?

[Ray]

Aphids are easy: Put a spray head in a bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

One spray and they're dead, and it does no harm to the plants.

Enstar II is s-kinoprene, and is manufactured by Wellmark International, so a bit of Google work might turn up something down under.

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Ray

Aphids are easy: Put a spray head in a bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol.

One spray and they're dead, and it does no harm to the plants.

Enstar II is s-kinoprene, and is manufactured by Wellmark International, so a bit of Google work might turn up something down under.

Thanks Ray,
I can't get hold of pure isopropyl alcohol but we have Isocol Rubbing Alcohol Anti-septic which is an Anti-bacterial Lotion that has 640mL/L isopropyl alcohol.

I have used that on the end of q-tips [those cotton thingys] to take off scale and aphids before... if I could just spray it, that would be a whole lot easier!

I haven't yet found any info on s-kinoprene within Australia but I did come across a really good page discussing beneficial insect pest control, that is quite interesting:
iPM Florida - Ornamental Plant Production Using IPM

[Matthews]

I bought some insecticide from Orchidsbyhausermann and it worked great. I had the bugs gone from my Dendrobium in less then 2 weeks.

[Tindomul]

I just use neem oil and soapy water if my Phals get mites. Probably would have been cheaper to buy a new Phal instead.