Mealy Bugs - Orchid Board

xjasminex · #1 05-22-2013, 09:54 PM

So i have mealy bugs, i have been reading about the alcohol, water, dish soap and oil treatment, i was wondering how you would use it though....like do you water the plant with it or spray the whole thing with it....or spot treat?

Please inform me of the right way to properly use this concoction!

Thanks!
Jasmine

Pilot · #2 05-22-2013, 10:51 PM

I sprayed my plants with alcohol. It's hard on them because of the rapid evaporation that in turns chills be plant and quickly. So if you use alcohol, do it in a warm environment.

If your bug issue is big or eventually gets scary out of hand consider Bayer advanced 3 in 1 WITHOUT any fertilizer in it. It's a systemic and will stop those bugs after two or three applications.

james mickelso · #3 05-22-2013, 10:55 PM

Yes. Bayer 3-1 systemic spray. Saturate the plant. The mealies get down into the leaf axils/sheaths and reproduce there. The Bayer will get them too. Two apps is usually all you need. But make sure you get the media too.

SlipperGirl · #4 05-22-2013, 11:49 PM

I have been using alcohol and over a month later I am still fighting the things

I am getting the Bayer 3-1 tomorrow for my plants that have scale and will be using it on the ones with mealy bugs if I see them again.

RosieC · #5 05-23-2013, 03:57 AM

I have just used alcohol on a q-tip and paper towel and dabbed off the mealies with the q-tip soaked in rubbing alcohol and wiped down the leaves with the paper towel. It does have a chilling effect though as said above. I was lucky though that I caught it quickly on mine and was able to get rid of them with just two treatments like that.

james mickelso · #6 05-23-2013, 09:24 PM

They well be baack. When I was a diehard Robert Rodale devotee I used alcohol, dish soap, cinnamon extract and oil, and many other organic methods to control bugs and diseases on my vegetable/fruit tree crops and my beloved bonsai. They worked great but soon the pests were back. Their progeny hide in the very small cracks and crevices of not only the plant but in the media/soil. Getting rid of the adults works for awhile but soon they are back. So I became human and now use "poisons" to rid my plants of unwanted guests. Now I seldom have any problems with my plants. It ain't rocket science.

xjasminex · #7 05-24-2013, 11:39 PM

Ok, I can get that through amazon no problem!

So when I treat I spay the entire plant? The flowers too? Will it damaged my flowers/buds?

To get it into my media could I add it to water and then soak the plant, like I do for watering, or just spray the crap out of the media?

How long do I wait after the first application to do the second application?

Is this ok to leave on my orchids? Or do I eventually wash it away?

Thanks for answering my questions!
Jasmine

jrodpad · #8 05-25-2013, 01:06 PM

You can spray and also add it to the water and soak the media. You can spray the whole plant and leave it on. No need to wash it off. I didn't gave to worry about spraying buds / flowers, so i will let someone else chime in on that question. I sprayed and soaked to get rid of some scale and now - no issues. Your applications should be about 2 weeks apart. Three applications and you should have no more mealies.

-J

xjasminex · #9 05-25-2013, 03:49 PM

Thank you very much for that! Other than the flowers/buds question you answered everything! I really appreciate it! =]

---------- Post added at 02:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:38 PM ----------

This is the exact stuff right?

3-In-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control | Bayer Advanced

Brooke · #10 05-25-2013, 04:35 PM

Yes that is the correct Bayer product.

When I spray some of the spray gets on buds and blooms and I've never experienced any problems.

Brooke