Orange Guard - Little Tip

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Today wasn't my best orchid day. After the pick up from Ecuagenera when I did find out my Lepanthes never made the trip from Ecuador, I came back home to find out that my unopen buds on my Cattleya luteola are gone
I was scared when I got this orchid that I did kill the buds maybe due to my re potting it and mounting when buds were in sheath, but I did actually kill it with ORANGE GUARD. Ok, I have never used anything against the ants, I am growing outside in Florida and let's be honest, ants are there. They never ever bothered any of my plants. They did love the open blooms on Encyclia cochleata, but never did any damage to them. BUT when the buds pushed through the sheath on luteola, for some reason, they got crazy, and ambush the buds. After 2 days I saw some spots on the buds, so I got scared and knew if I do not do something it won't be good. I went to my orchid vendor and got ORANGE GUARD. I did ask if it is safe for blooms, buds etc, and was told it is safe even around the food and animals. Ok, so I did spray buds, plant, area around and added the spike on Encychlia cochleata as well, because it is safe! Well, this is the thing - the ant GONE, works great, however the open bloom on cochleata is gone also, got weird soggy destroyed, and the worst, both buds on luteola are gone also - stupid me, did not cut the sheath to release the orange guard that was trapped inside the sheath and pretty much rotten both buds I can blame only myself, I guess it just was not meant to be for me this time to see the gorgeous blooms on luteola, and I did learn my lesson. ORANGE GUARD works great, BUT it may kill some open blooms and one must be careful about the buds and trapped liquid. As I said, not a great orchid Saturday for me. Life goes on though

[kindrag23]

What is orange guard? I have never heard of it?

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Orange Guard
It is water/oil based insect killer. It is used by many orchid growers to kill ants and even mites and other beast. It actually truly work fantastic, and THE SMELL of oranges is absolutely amazing! Some growers use it even as a prevention and spay with weak concentrate every month. It is safe even around food, pets etc, so truly NO CHEMICAL stuff, but work perfect. Unfortunately it did damage bloom on cochleata and it killed the buds, but that was only my stupidity I should have cut the sheath on the cattleya to leave the liquid out, oh well, we learn from our mistakes right:-)?

[kindrag23]

Exactly hmmm anything has to be better than bayer neem oil spray. That stuff smells god awful. than the stuff by ortho that is all natural is a waste of money. Just FYI I think it made the plants taste better to the grasshoppers.

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Well, Orange Guard really works, there are no ants what so ever for 2 days already, I am just kind of pissed at myself for not thinking about these buds and not cutting the sheath:-( My fault though, it just wasn't great orchid day today for me as I mentioned in other thread.

[kindrag23]

Hey the bugs are gone and they all smell good....good day to me. But I do get the point I would be sick if my monn. Bud blasted at this point. I would be just sick

[TOMMYMIAMI]

Yeap, I mean, cochleata is blooming for some 4 months already, and it seems like it did not damage the unopened buds for that one so all good there, only luteola, and I really wanted to see luteola, but what can I do, lesson learned, lets hope I can keep this cattleya alive and it will bloom for me again soon;-)

[kindrag23]

Im sure you will get plenty more you live in the perfect space for orchids lol