HOW DO I GET RID OF SCALES AND MEALY BUGS!?!?!? - Orchid Board

isdaojon · #1 08-22-2011, 11:37 AM

I have always had a problem with these pests. They are Always on at least one of my plants. I have tried soap, brushing them off but they always seen to come back, especially in the season when they are inside. Anything that has worked for you to get rid of these devils is greatly appreciated!

JDT · #2 08-22-2011, 11:51 AM

I have always had good luck with a mild dish detergent that I mix 3 tablespoons per gallon and then spary the entire plant till saturation, I then do another dose within 7-10 days. You have to continue to spray, for me especially during the summer in my Florida climate, about every 6 weeks if we are not having a lot of rain, which is normally the case in South Florida this time of year. During the winter I will still continue to spray but not as often and then I also add 1 tablespoon of Wesson Oil to the mix, only during the winter as during the summer my heat would damage the plant with the addition of the oil. Good luck!!

camille1585 · #3 08-22-2011, 02:12 PM

Answer to your question: with great difficulty.

You can control them to some extent, but complete eradication is very, very hard (at least with mealies). I use alcohol, dishsoap mixtures, rotate different contact and systemic insecticides, and all I can do is make them disappear for a few months at best, before they start popping up again.

Spraying the mealy infested areas of the plant will kill them within a day. A good systemic insecticide to use as a spray or drench is one having imidacloprid as an active ingredient.

Eyebabe · #4 08-22-2011, 03:56 PM

Orthenex, Malathion....and I still have to vigilantly watch!

dounoharm · #5 08-22-2011, 05:00 PM

yes you can get rid of them, but you have to provide your plants with monthly maintainence....or they will be right back....get a good systemic insecticide, and follow the directions on the package....you cant brush em off or dab em with alcohol and expect to get rid of them....neither do homemade concoctions work....get the big guns out if you want to actually get rid of the pests.....gl

jmain3 · #6 08-22-2011, 05:08 PM

dounoharm,

can you please recommend a good systemic insecticide? Thanks.

isdaojon · #7 08-22-2011, 10:35 PM

Thank you all very much! dounoharm: i think i will take your advice, although yes if you could recomend a good systematic insecticide, that would be great!

Another question: do these insecticides affect the plant in any way?

camille1585 · #8 08-23-2011, 04:20 AM

2 systemic insecticides that I recommend are ones containing either imidacloprid (Bayer) or acetamiprid as an active ingredient. Can't give you product names since they are different here. They work extremely well, I think that I just haven't been following up with extra treatments for long enough (only treat for 2 months, should do longer) and the bugs come back.

bullsie · #9 08-23-2011, 09:17 AM

I use Merit 75. 1/8 tsp to a gallon of water as a drench. I don't spray it anywhere, just water the plants with it. Once a week for four weeks (three for scale but a fourth for mealies). I find this very successful. But also clean the area. Will help. And keep on the watch for other little monsters. For some reason they just never are alone and the Merit doesn't kill everything.

Paul Mc · #10 08-23-2011, 09:29 AM

I used rubbing alcohol mixed with water, sprayed the plants with it and diligently rubbed the mixture and the bugs off. It took several cleanings but I got them eventually.

The only issue is that the alcohol mixture got into my medium and burned the roots. The p-bulbs have never quite recovered, but there is new growth. If you're going to do this method, then you should repot it immediately as the old mixture will retain the alcohol.