How to use Organicide??

[greenpassion]

I just purchased a bottle of Organicide as suggested by a fellow poster when I posted I may have bugs. It turns out I don't think I have spider mites, but very recently I posted a photo in another forum about yellowing Oncidium leaves, and one of the responders told me they think I may have scale!! (Actually not me, but my orchid!!) Anyway, I am not satisfied with the container's directions for use, it's very scant, and well, I would like more specific directions. I have 'rescue' phals and several oncidiums, and as I'm so new to orchid care, I need someone to hold my hand so to speak.

[Bud]

use a capful to a gallon of water...(thats my general rule)
it is very strange to get a bottle in the USA with no directions or instructions: is it a fly by night company? if you cannot run after them if theres a problem that arise then dont buy from them...

if you can still return it...then do so

heres a good recipe for bugs:

10 drops soap dish(any kind)
1/2 teaspoon cinammon extract( in any supermarket aisle find them together with vanilla and almond extract)
2 cups tepid water from the sink

put it in a spritzer and spray the whole plant...then soak the pot in a basin of this mix for 5 min

[greenpassion]

There is directions, but it says do not use inside the home, and I've got my orchids inside. Anyway, I gotn it from a reputable Orchid web site. But your recipe looks better to me. Will this take care of scale? I feel like a new mom who's running for the cliff!

[greenbean]

Always follow the directions on the package. If it says don't use it in the home, DON'T use it in the home!

Personally I'd follow Bud's recipe (not the capful per gallon, the home-made recipe) if you can't find proper information for the pesticide you have and don't want to buy something that is properly labelled.

[Ray]

I absolutely WOULD NOT follow Bud's "general rule" of one cap-full per gallon - unless he knows that to be the true recommended mixing rate.

Pesticides are not to be fooled around with.

Doing a quick Google search I found an Organocide (not Organicide) specimen label suggest one or two gallons per 100 gallons, which equates to roughly 1.25-2.5 ounces per gallon.

I can also see why it is recommended that it not be used in the home - its a few percent sesame oil with the balance being primarily fish oil. That'll stink to high heaven!

[tucker85]

I've used Organicide for years. It's a horticultural oil that smothers insects. Do not spray it inside. In fact be careful outside also. It's not poisonous but the oil will get on things and be difficult to get off. I actually stained part of my concrete patio with Organicide and it took a couple years for the stain to fade out. I usually get the premixed bottle and spray it directly on the plants. When I buy the concentrate, I mix it exactly according to the label. I use some latex gloves and a hand sprayer and I spray all surfaces of the plant, especially the undersides of the leaves. A week later I spary the entire plant with Safers insecticide soap. I learned this routine from Matin Motes book "Florida Orchid Growing" and it has worked very well for me. I like it better than using poisons.

[greenpassion]

And stink it does! I was a good duby and sprayed my orchids OUTSIDE, and then brought them back INSIDE to where I keep them-in my kitchen island under tracklights. Who can guess why as one walks by the living room/kitchen it smells something like fish emulsion? I can only hope that the odor will eventually dissipate with time. I don't suppose I can rinse it off??

[tucker85]

If you use Martin Motes routine and spray with Safer's insectice soap in a week, it will remove most of the oil and the smell.