Mealy bugs...neverending...

[xjasminex]

I have had mealy bugs all summer, i have been using the bayer 3 in 1 that has been suggested, it helps but they always seem to survive.

Does removing them from the pots and sub then soaking them in a water and bayer 3 in 1,then replanting in all new sub sound like a good idea? They are living so deep between the leaves that im not sure that it always gets to them when i spray them...

Thanks!
Jasmine

[DweamGoiL]

I am battling some mealys now. I started using the Bayer Advanced Natria, which was doing pretty much nothing. I then decided to repot all the plants in fresh new media and wash the roots really well with fresh water. I sprayed the roots with the insecticide solution and let them soak until I prepped the pots (washed them out really well and soaked them in some diluted soapy water since I didn't have bleach). I then repotted the plants in the new media and sprayed the foliage and allowed the water to get into the media as well.

Since spraying them almost a week ago, I haven't seen any actual bugs on my plants, but I do plan to continue the treatment for 3 applications at 10 days apart. I not only sprayed the plants, but let some water soak well into the media so it was like watering the plant with the 3 in 1 solution. I also prepared the solution a bit more dilute than the recommended dosage just in case.

Again, so far so good, but mealybugs are sneaky little buggers so let's see.

[Island Girl]

I just wanna say, (I'm sure the 3-n-1 will work), that you shouldn't ever dilute pesticides... All that does, is make insects resistant to it, because it wasn't enough to kill them.. and, Good Luck!

[Orchid Whisperer]

I use the Bayer dual action rose & flower formula (same ingredient for insects as the 3-in-1). If you want to kill the mealies, you need to treat all parts of the plant aggressively. Do this with all plants known or suspected to have mealies (if you miss one, you will likely need to start over again with all of them).

First, take the plant out of the pot, remove all media. Discard the media (it will have eggs, etc. in the media).

Wash the plant thoroughly, dilute mild dish soap (the kind you use in the sink), use a small paint brush to work dilute soap down into nooks and crannies of the plant. After a few minutes, rinse well.

Spray the entide plant, roots and all, with the Bayer 3-in-1 (or Bayer R and F).

Get ready to re-pot in new medium. Spray the new medium with the Bayer product. Then, re-pot as usual.

Note directions on the Bayer container. Using directions for houseplants, repeat spraying the leaves at the frequency recommended. DO NOT DILUTE. You will need to keep repeating sprays of leaves until you are sure every plant remains mealybug free. Lifespan of mealybug species vary but can be up to 80+ days. With some luck, the systemic effects of the Bayer products will kick in after a few weeks, but I would monitor all plants for 90 days.

[xjasminex]

Ok, thanks guys!!

[lepetitmartien]

To add on the excellent summing up of orchidwhisperer:

Switch the molecule you use, to prevent resistance. After 2-3 applications it's a good move (then back to the old one after 2-3 applications).

You can spray your mealies every 2-3 days with an alcohol/soap/water mix, no resistance possible and any post-egg size will die on the spot.

The reproduction cycle can take up to 2 months, and with chemicals, you can expect to see adults about 14 days after application.

I've got rid of the this spring with an alternative use of imidaclopride and thiaclopride, spray on view and regular spraying of alcohol/soap/water, and weak nettle manure dilution (1-2%) whole plant first then each watering over a month.

[RJSquirrel]

the mealies if i had any got sterilized in a 104 degree hothouse all summer long..'BERN-zem-Out' is the product I prefer...its natural non toxic and available everywhere in massive quantities

[Orchid Whisperer]

@lepetitmartien
Good idea to switch chemical after a few weeks!
Do you have some preferred alternatives for mealies?

[lepetitmartien]

In fact, I've used imidaclopride and thiaclopride (that's the molecules). Melaies are starting to show resistancies to imidaclopride so it there's no effect, switch but continue to give imidaclopride later on.

Something like: (each letter is a treatment with the legit interval.

•with resistance to I

I T T I T T I T etc.

•with no resistance:

I I T T I I T T… or I I I T T T I I I… or I I T T T I I I T T… or

We are progressively forbiding all chemicals in Europe, and a 2 year moratory for these 2 is starting this winter (trial for bees sake)(it's not long enough).

You can do this with any product available with a known effect on mealies, but beware, some available still in the US are really nasty for you too. Even those are not safe as milk. And they have issues with the environment.

I'm trying to switch to alternative methods, to go with my convictions. My first trials weren't that good. In fact, a lot of the result with non polluting preparations (nettle manure, alcohol/soap) depends of the strength of the orchids. Nettle sure did give some kick as I had treated with chemicals before. The plants needed some strengthener.

Best result was with alcohol/soap/water spray, in 3 months I managed to go down to 1-2 mealies over two weeks. Then summer came in, I was away and the issue was madenning when I came home.

Remember that if you have a veranda, or GH, and no chemical treatment in the last 2 months, you can use auxiliaries if the invasion is large enough. They will feast on the mealies.

In case, Sue Bottom's pdf on pests and diseases gives effective product lists, you should check. Though she does not have a go at non chemical solutions.

Hope these 2 cents will help