Granular Imidacloprid

[MCSchrum]

It seems like once your orchid collection reaches a certain threshold, you're going to be locked in a constant battle with pests. I've got around 100 orchids now, and it seems like I'm always finding a mealybug, or a scale insect here and there on my plants. So far I've been using insecticidal soap to treat these infestations when I find them, and I've been able to keep them at bay. However, I recently discovered that a couple of my plants have worse infestations than I previously thought, and I'm just getting tired of seeing these pests on the plants I've worked so hard to care for. I'm considering using some sort of systemic insecticide. I grow indoors, so I'm not terribly comfortable with spraying a poisonous chemical on my plants. I came across a granular form of imidacloprid, by Bonide, specifically designed for house plants. How anyone used this or a similar product. Anyone have opinions on this?

Amazon.com: Bonide Product 951 Systemic House Plant Insect Control 8 Oz.: Pet Supplies

[bil]

Originally Posted by MCSchrum

It seems like once your orchid collection reaches a certain threshold, you're going to be locked in a constant battle with pests. I've got around 100 orchids now, and it seems like I'm always finding a mealybug, or a scale insect here and there on my plants. So far I've been using insecticidal soap to treat these infestations when I find them, and I've been able to keep them at bay. However, I recently discovered that a couple of my plants have worse infestations than I previously thought, and I'm just getting tired of seeing these pests on the plants I've worked so hard to care for. I'm considering using some sort of systemic insecticide. I grow indoors, so I'm not terribly comfortable with spraying a poisonous chemical on my plants. I came across a granular form of imidacloprid, by Bonide, specifically designed for house plants. How anyone used this or a similar product. Anyone have opinions on this?

Amazon.com: Bonide Product 951 Systemic House Plant Insect Control 8 Oz.: Pet Supplies

Not used the granular version, but I have the liquid version, and Imacloporid is the dog's licky bits, because it is systemic, and remains in the plant's tissues for a while.

I also like CHAS48 aka Dursban, as a backup, but if you use it, DO TREAT IT WITH RESPECT. I got a drop on my skin, and it gives a nasty chemical burn. HOWEVER, if ants say are a problem, spray on the path, whatever, and NOTHING will cross it for months and months.

[rbarata]

I use a spray named "Calypso", manufacturer is Bayer.
I tuses tiaclopride, which seems to be an "evolution" of imidacloprid.
I used it so save a den affected by a huge mealy bug attack, 3 applications (together with a cleaning and repoting) were enough to clean it till today.

[bil]

Originally Posted by rbarata

I use a spray named "Calypso", manufacturer is Bayer.
I tuses tiaclopride, which seems to be an "evolution" of imidacloprid.
I used it so save a den affected by a huge mealy bug attack, 3 applications (together with a cleaning and repoting) were enough to clean it till today.

Well, I had - god only knows what it is. It's a white, soft bug, looks a bit like cochinilla, but doesn't have red blood, and it isn't cushion scale, and it is the very devil to shift.

It was on a Den Nobile, and what I do is two doses, two weeks apart, and each time soak the medium too.

So far that has been enough, but any other problems and I bring in the CHAS 48 as backup.

---------- Post added at 02:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:17 PM ----------

We get a beetle here that eats all the petals off the garden flowers in Spring, so I bring out the imacloprid tooty sweety, as it's systemic nature means that the beetles die if they eat the sprayed petals. It's also a contact insecticide. I'd get up to a plant with a hundred beetles on it and start spaying like a mad thing. Every now and then a beetle would sense that a Bad Thing was about to happen, and get airborne. So I would try and hit him with the spray, and he would make maybe 15 metres and fall out of the air like a stone.

[rbarata]

I think mealy bugs are red under that soft white mold...
Calypso is also systemic so it acts everywhere...I also spray a bit in the medium.

[Leafmite]

I have used the granular stuff for my houseplants and roses in the past but you need to water very well as the fertilizer in some of the granular products (I have used the rose one) can be very strong. The rose product works for eight weeks and, after the last time I used it, I haven't seen much of anything on my houseplants even two years later. The only cravat is that you just need to be careful if it has fertilizer in it as the fertilizer can damage the roots.