What can I soak a sick plant in for serious scale? - Orchid Board

greengarden · #1 02-23-2013, 12:05 AM

I have a small cymbidium which I am quite keen to rescue but it keeps getting worse. It has an extremely bad scale infestation which has got right into all the gaps between the leaves. I have manually removed a lot of them and been spraying it with a pesticide to try to get rid of them but to no avail. The plant has continued to decline.

Is there anything else that I could soak the whole plant in that might help? Is it worth soaking it in peroxide or something like that?

Stray59 · #2 02-23-2013, 03:45 AM

Try the dry ice method that I posted about a couple of months ago; there is some criticism about the drop in temperature. If you do the method correctly, the temp drop will not be that drastic. Just remember to put the container of water and dry ice on a trivet of some sort to keep it from chilling the receptacle. If it does get cool, just remove the container/fog maker and 'pour' the CO2 fog in until all the air is gone. Once you put the top on you can sit it in the (indirect) sun or another warm place to bring the temp up a little if needed, but I never have needed to do so.
This method will smother all oxygen breathing organisms and will give a boost to the plant. This is very good for scale and mealies as it get's down in the cracks.
You can get dry ice here at Walmart or at an ice cream shop. Hope this helps!
Steve

AnonYMouse · #3 02-23-2013, 04:29 AM

Haven't needed to try this myself (hard to type with crossed fingers) but wanted to add another source for dry ice. Party and catering supply stores.

greengarden · #4 02-23-2013, 04:48 AM

Hmmm...we have none of those types of stores around here. I live in a regional town with a small supermarket, a fishing shop and a couple of takeaway joints and a post office LOL. Any other suggestions? If I need to get anything special I'll probably need to order online.

AnonYMouse · #5 02-23-2013, 05:16 AM

I've only had a modest scale infestation on a dwarf citrus tree. I just spray the cinnamon concoction. I don't know if it would work with all the nooks and crannies that cyms have.

---------- Post added at 02:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 AM ----------

How about predators? I have no clue what they may be, though. LoL

goodgollymissmolly · #6 02-23-2013, 05:28 AM

What is wrong with some insecticide? Anything with Merit (look at Bayer Advanced products) will work. Y'all have a way of making this an unnecessary adventure. If you can't find Merit (unlikely since it's everywhere), darn near any insecticide will work.

greengarden · #7 02-23-2013, 05:31 AM

That's what I am already doing but I just can't seem to get rid of them. I've had it since christmas and have been spraying it weekly with insecticide and it's just getting worse

---------- Post added at 09:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 PM ----------

What's the cinnamon thing anonymouse?

Stray59 · #8 02-23-2013, 07:42 AM

The reason I suggested Dry Ice, is that it will get in ANY crook and cranny as it is taking the breathable air away -also it leaves no residue and is safe for anything not in the treatment container. But if you don't have access to such, I understand. You may check with your grocer - he may have a source of DI. Otherwise it's chemicals or other treatments. You could put it in a bag of ladybugs or other carnivorous insects maybe, but I am not sure what carnivorous bug is in Australia!
Sorry to get your hopes up!
Steve

AnonYMouse · #9 02-23-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greengarden

What's the cinnamon thing anonymouse?

She asked, I'm answering. Not interested in arguing the benefits of a thermonuclear reaction on insects (I suspect that will get rid of scale or we just wouldn't care anymore).

The recipe is posted by many all over the internet.

Basic Cinnamon Concoction:
10 drops dishsoap/washing up liquid/liquid castille soap
1/2 tsp. (~1.8 ml) cinnamon extract from the spice aisle
2 cups (~500 ml) tepid water

Variations:
Reduce water, add isopropyl alcohol
increase/decrease soap for filminess (is that a word?)
add cinnamon sticks in spray/storage bottle

Smells great and the leaves are left shiny!

If you can't find the extract, Ray has a recipe (and so much more-thanks Ray!) somewhere on his site:First Rays' Free Info.

Also, there is some sort of association with ants. Controlling ants may be the first line of defense.

goodgollymissmolly · #10 02-23-2013, 07:41 AM

What insecticide are you using? Weekly is not frequent enough to catch the new hatches. The insecticide won't kill eggs so you need to kill any new insects before they provide new eggs.

How are you doing it? You need to spray to runoff, be sure to remove and saturate all covering bract areas, and drench media.