Scale - Orchid Board

cday2inflorida · #1 01-10-2009, 10:02 AM

I seem to have recurring problem with scale on certain plants, mainly laelias. I honestly think something I purchased and didn't quarantine coupled with a poor watering/humidity regime on a few mounted plants on my porch. I will not move them till I know its under control or I dispose of the infected plants and bleach the porch off. I hate to throw them away, there are some tenebrosas and a C schilleriana that I've had for years involved.
I've been using alcohol cut with water and few drops of a spreader sticker soap. I've soaked both the plants and the media. Only to see it come back in a few weeks to a month.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

cb977 · #2 01-10-2009, 10:16 AM

I use a 50/50 mix of alcohol and 409 cleaner when I see scale. Just spray and then use a cotton swab or dental tool to remove the scale. It works really well

Make sure you get down in the leaves and I always remove that papery stuff around the canes/bulbs. It makes a perfect hiding place for the little buggers

Give the whole plant a good spray about a week later...this works for me

BikerDoc5968 · #3 01-10-2009, 10:23 AM

Time to use a systemic! I like either Bayer Advanced 3-In-1 Insect, Disease & Mite Control or Ortho Orthenex. Both can be sprayed on the plant to kill the juvenile insects and soak the media which will eventually kill the adult. Others will reccomend Neem oil or some of the "soaps" used as insecticides. I'm sure they are all very good, but I have no experience using them. I know one must use care with the Neem Oil because you can "fry" the leaves of a plant if the sun shines for too long on the leaves. Sue makes two VERY good points about getting whatever you use down into the base of the leaves and pseudobulb or stem area andrepeating the treatment a week to 10 days later.

Gin · #4 01-10-2009, 11:13 AM

Systemic time ! Bayer Tree and Shrub works great a Tbs. to a gallon of water once a week for 3 weeks . In the mean time I spray the tops with Safer's insect soap to prevent more damage until the systemic kicks in . The contact sprays work But! if one egg is missed they will come back . Hope this helps ..

cday2inflorida · #5 01-10-2009, 01:34 PM

Thanks! This is first time in a lot of years that I've had this sort of problem. I use to use the systemic, Cygon and I'm not sure they even sell it any longer.
The alcohol worked in the past...but this is beyond alcoholl I fear. I'll try the systemic that you all mentioned.

Ray · #6 01-10-2009, 06:03 PM

Generally speaking, on an insect with a hard shell, alcohol is not nearly as effective as a soap. The idea is to break down the waxy, protective coating on the shell.

If you use an insecticide AND a soap, so much the better.

mojomick · #7 01-12-2009, 02:59 PM

The recommendation to use 409 and alcohol is intrieging but I am concerned that harm may come to the plant. How long have you used this method? and any problems as a result? How exactly do you use this combination?

Tindomul · #8 01-12-2009, 04:40 PM

Don't forget to hunt them down in the roots. I have seen them hide out on the roots themselves.

Ross · #9 01-12-2009, 04:48 PM

I just got some Bayers (as per Gin's recommendation). I suspect drench (as Tindo alludes to) is the recommended way to get the eggs and jouveniles? I have found certain genera and all plant spikes and blossoms are most attractive to the critters.

mojomick · #10 01-15-2009, 04:40 PM

OK, I picked up some Bayer 3-1 today. The concentrate says to use 5 1/4 tablespoons per gallon. Is this the dosage you all use for a drench for scale? Do you spray as well as drench? with the same concentration? I never had scale until I got the greenhouse so am really not familiar with all the little critters. Thanks for any help you can give. Betty