Thrip insects on my Phal :/

[Natureworld86]

I’m so much struggling with my few phalaenopsis to protect them from thrips.
All started like about 4 months ago that they have appeared on their leaves and all the time applying on them some home made washing liquid mixed with some water. It seems work for few days but after I found new white young thrips :/
They have caused bad damages to the leaves and I’m just wondering if anyone have better idea how to get rid off from these nasty insects? Is it harmful to the plant using washing liquid on them very often? Many thanks guys!

[wisdomseeker]

I will be following along with this thread.

I am fortunate to "not" have experienced a thrip infestation (and knock on wood, hope I never do)... but, I've heard some true horror stories about thrips and the damage they can do. Are you growing indoors or outdoors?

[Natureworld86]

Hi wisdomseeker,

Yes you are lucky as they really harmful and since I noticed few of them on the first orchid in few days later they got spreaded over to my other orchids too!
I’m not able to stop them and they do more and more harms to my plants. I don’t really know if I will be able stop them ever. They are indoor plants by the way.
I hope you’ll never have to face this problem!

[wisdomseeker]

Hope my luck holds them off.

Hopefully, someone can chime in with some helpful suggestions about your problem.

Here is a pretty good link https://www.staugorchidsociety.org/P...ySueBottom.pdf

Pages 4 & 5 are definitely "eye-openers".

[Ray]

Soap isn't going to do a thing. Get a decent systemic insecticide, and do a thorough series of treatments.

[Natureworld86]

Thank you for the link Wisdomseeker! 👍👍

---------- Post added at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

Ray,

Which insecticide you would suggest me to get? I’ve checked in many shops but there wasn’t a single product which would have made for orchids, all I found in the pack were mentioned use on houseplants only.
Any suggestion?

[Ray]

You're right that there isn't much labeled for orchids, but most "big guns" labeled for roses can be safely used.

Personally, I prefer acephate as a systemic, but now that I am an in-home grower again, I am leaning more toward Azamax, due to the odorant added to acephate.

[estación seca]

Motes Orchids recommends preventive treatment of Vanda spikes to prevent thrips from damaging buds.
They say to use any of the common household insecticides sold in the US in aerosol cans. I don't know what is available in Europe.