Prophylactic insecticide treatment?
 

Hi folks,

I just got several new orchids through an import order and it got me thinking - I'm used to doing prophylactic treatment for parasites in the aquarium hobby so I'm wondering if any of you do prophylactic treatments on new plants besides isolating and observing.

Thanks in advance!

Nope. Isolate and observe. It's best to only treat when you identify a pest.

Isn't it likely though that the infestation will be quite bad before it's noticed? Especially I'm thinking with something like thrips?

And what if horticultural or neem oil is used instead of insecticides to prevent resistance development?

It really doesn't take much of a thrip infestation to be noticed.

What makes you think neem oil treatments cannot lead to resistant strains?

That's good then. I read elsewhere they can be hard to notice.

From what I understand oils work by suffocating the insect's breathing pores not via chemical reaction. If that's true, then they can't become resistant to it until they evolve a very different method of gas exchange.

Both of those are pesticides with insecticidal and fungicidal qualities. They are both contact insecticides. Depending on the product formulation, water pH, and environmental conditions, neem can have some residual anti-feeding/etc. effects. The fungicidal effects are best used for prevention during conditions where fungal diseases are likely to occur, or at the very onset of a fungal infection.

Thanks for the info! I didn't know they had fungicidal properties as well.

I got some Neem oil from a friend so I think I'll try a foliar spray with dish soap for some peace of mind.

Still interested in hearing if anyone does anything else for their new plants!

Just observe them.

Thanks for chiming in Roberta!

Your orchid page is as inspiring as always. (Especially those Cyms!)

Thanks! I pretty much live in Cymbidium heaven. That's one group of orchids for which I have to do very little other than keep them watered and fertilized, Mother Nature provides the rest of their environmental needs.