INSECTICIDES

[Leafmite]

I mostly use lava rock so if there are pests in the medium, I just sit it in water overnight and don't worry too much. As for the sphagnum moss, it soaks well in water, too. Re-potting some types of orchids at the wrong time can really vex them.
I use Malathion and fungicide for the fruit trees and Granular Rose systemic for the roses but I rarely use pesticides on any other plants. I'd rather use safer solutions. Pesticides and fungicides are just not good for people or environment and some of them can stress even plants. We often don't think of how they are manufactured, too, but for those of us old enough to remember Union Carbide and Bhopal India, December, 1984.... Still, you can't really grow fruit effectively without pesticides and roses are very challenging. You can't lift either up and run them under the faucet. :0

[Vanda lover]

Right Leafmite! For now I will just continue to be persistent.

[Bud]

I will use safe home remedies if I can. But there are times when you really need the 'big guns' and I used Captan to save a couple of my Vandas....I did it outdoors near the dumpsters. Made sure it is away from drainage pipes....used lots of newspaper to absorb the drips. Reading the instructions is vital and the labels scare you to make yourself safe. They say the cancerous and the poisonous properties contained and what it can do if you are careless with it.

[quiltergal]

Fire, electricity, and gas are all exceedingly dangerous and can cause death yet we all use these things daily and don't think twice about it. Same goes for a lot of drugs prescribed for and used by humans. To use any of these items safely requires reading the instructions and using plain old common sense. Insecticides are no different.

[orchidsarefun]

I have started up a preventive programme, rotating treatment. The most important aspect is that there are NO lasting residual effects, important to those of us who care about our environment - indoors and out.
Neem oil - safe and has been used for centuries
Alcohol/Dr Bronner - safe and very effective
Sucrashield - on its way to me, to be used in place of Safer.
The most important part of insect control is to ensure that ANY new plant ( including houseplants ) is thoroughly sprayed and preferably quarantined. This also applies to media purchases - sterilise before use ! If you don't do this, you can start up the cycle of infestation.
I didn't do this at first and now have to go through the preventive programme ( in 4 different grow-areas ) until I am confident that any problems are gone. I think the house environment is an insect-promoting environment - less humidity ( spider and other mites ) and people coming and going........especially me from nursery to home to shows to home. I probably inadvertently pick up a lot of hitchhikers

[RosieC]

I like to avoid them when I can, but like Bud says sometimes you just have to.

I don't like that some insecticides are thought to be the cause of problems in the bee population other such things. There is also the problem with resitant strains of the bugs we are trying to kill appearing in greenhouses where insecticides have been over-used. That's my reason for doing all I can to avoid the use unnecessarily.

I also don't want to kill the beneficial bugs like ladybirds (ladybugs), springtails etc. People seem to wonder why there are so many less butterflies about these days... having killed all the caterpillars they can in the spring. I get a lot of caterpillars on my gooseberry. They can wipe out the leaves in a few weeks if left un-checked. But I choose to pick them off by hand, knowing I will never get them all, only enough to stop the plant being destroyed.

Having said that I do have a couple of Bayer products on the shelf which I use when there is no other choice and a plant is being severely affected by them.

[debrasoon]

I always wonder cause I read the labels, sometimes I use gloves and sometimes I don't. I use a systemic fungicide, Thiram, which is similar to Captan I think, cause my whole collection seems to have fungus somewhere or other. I alternate that with Neem oil, and am trying to use more organic pesticides and fungicides, ie neem based ones. They aren't as quick and effective as malathion (which if u have too strong a dose can also kill your plant!) so I guess one has to be patient. I have also used a Bayer mite control insecticide. The cautionary notes on the bottle are scary and I always wonder what I am doing to my body in the long run.


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[La Casa de las Orquideas]

We always encourage our readers to try first with organic remedies, but sometimes those won't do the trick and if you want to save your collection, you have to use bigger guns.

I agree that they are not harmless, but if used as directed and with some precautions (like not inhaling the fumes, using gloves, doing it outside your house and keeping them away from children and pets) there should not be a problem and your plants can be saved.
As far as diseases for humans, I believe this apply if your in constant contact or if you ingest treated crops, for example, not if you apply to your ornamental plants sporadically.

[HighSeas]

I've spent the last 30+ years of my Nursing career either in the operating room or in Surgical Intensive Care Units. I have the utmost respect for the element of "exposure" but at the same time, I think a person just has to use some plain old common sense. If you are fearful of using pesticides, fungicides etc, then don't use them. Personally, I do use them....with respect for the dangers. That said...I protect myself and use common sense.

It's about following directions....Universal Precautions....and being "smart" about what you're doing, WHY you're doing it and what your ultimate goal is.

Consider that soap, alcohol and other "lesser evils" create "resistance" as well. Then what?

After all...we live in a world where there are environmental dangers which exist in the air we breath, the food we eat and the water we drink....or swim in.

I use the resources available to me to accomplish the deed KNOWING that if I live long enough, cancer is going to take me out anyway.

[mimigirl]

When i ask for advice on safe insecticide, i dont mean safe for me. I means safe for orchids. Any suggestions? I have that scaly thing (scale?) that leaves a sticky substance. Also have aphids on an outside hoya and need to kiss eggs that i cant see