Using Bayer 3 in 1

[ronaldhanko]

I have scale on some Masdevallias (they are potted in sphagnum) and I am planning on using Bayer 3 in 1 on them, but have a couple of questions:

1) is it safe on Masdevallias
2) what dosage should I use?
3) do I spray it on the plants of dip the pots in a solution of it since it is systemic?

Appreciate any help.

[Ray]

I have never used that specific product Ron, but have used a 1.47% imidicloprid one at one ounce per gallon.

As the 3-in-1 product has 1/3 that amount, I'd ratio it up to 3 oz/gal, and I see they recommend 5-1/4 tablespoons (3 oz = 6 TBSP), so I'd try it at their recommendation.

Don't know whether masdies are particularly sensitive to it.

Watering with it is sufficient, but a dunk might have more impact sooner.

[ronaldhanko]

Thanks ever so much, Ray. I'm going to give it a try and hope it doesn't kill the Masdevallias.

[DavidCampen]

I don't think the imidacloprid or fluvalinate are much cause for concern, I would be more concerned about possible phytotoxicity from the fungicide. I believe that the fungicide is Myclobutanil? I can't look at the label right now because the Bayer site wants me to have a flash player to view that and I have flash player disabled on this machine. I much prefer professional quality pesticides - the labels are more definitive and I have never needed a flash player to view the label.

[ronaldhanko]

You are correct, David, about the fluvalinate. It is referred to as Tau-fluvalinate and is at 61%. May I ask what your concerns are?

I also have Monterey Insect Control which seems to be Imidacloprid only at 1.47%. Would I be better off using that? and at what dosage?

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

You are correct, David, about the fluvalinate. It is referred to as Tau-fluvalinate and is at 61%. May I ask what your concerns are?

I also have Monterey Insect Control which seems to be Imidacloprid only at 1.47%. Would I be better off using that? and at what dosage?

My concern is not about either the imidacloprid or the tau-fluvalinate, it is about the fungicide whatever that is. In reading fungicide labels I have noticed that fungicides are often phytotoxic, perhaps because plants are more closely related to fungi than to insects.

If your only concern at the moment is scale then I would use something without fungicide - like Monterey Insect Control.

For imidacloprid dosage I would have to look in my notebook at home. I have used it without problems but I have mostly Laelianae and Catasetinae and no Masdevallias.

[ronaldhanko]

I misunderstood your reference to the fluvalinate. The fungicide apparently is tebuconazole. Do you know anything about it? In any case I probably will do as you suggested and use the straight insecticide.

[DavidCampen]

I don't know anything about tebuconazole. Googling "tebuconazole phytotoxicity" I can find, for example:
http://www.bcg.org.au/public_resourc...esource_id=942
"...Tebuconazole is notable among most other foliar fungicides in that it is toxic to plants (phytotoxic)
at rates normally required to provide adequate control against fungal diseases (Pederson 2007).
Tebuconazole phytotoxicity has been recorded at higher use rates in many crop species including soy
beans, cocoa, winter grass and rock melons (Holderness 1990 and Vawdrey 1994). In most of these
published cases, symptoms have included obvious death of leaf tissue. There were no obvious visual
differences between the control and tebuconazole treatment in this experiment. However, Pederson
(2007) notes that symptoms of tebuconazole phytotoxicity may affect all or only parts of the plant
(including roots), and can include only a subtle growth reduction..."

[ronaldhanko]

Wow! That scares me off the Bayer.

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by ronaldhanko

Wow! That scares me off the Bayer.

Phytotoxicity is species dependant. Tebucanazole might be fine on Masdevallias but it would be best to test it on a few plants first. Since your problem isn't with fungus it would be safest to use a product that contains only imidacloprid.