Safer on bloom or bud?
 

Ugh..There is a bug chomping on my orchid bloom making holes about as wide as a pin head. Is it safe to spray the bloom and buds with Safer or will it mess up the bud and bloom--perhaps even more than the insect did? These are growing outdoors. Any suggestions? I am hoping to bring to orchid meeting. The bud "promised" to open by then. Thank!!!!

Here's a close-up of the damage followed by a photo of the bloom and bud.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5537/9...559a6bfe_z.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2865/9...e18c4c0b_z.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/9...f0191fce_z.jpg

I think it's okay to use on flowers, I've not noticed any damage in the past. However, I don't grow anything in the cattleya alliance, so I don't have specific experience with catt buds. If you're concerned about it, probably best not to spray the blooms.

More importantly, Safer is a contact pesticide and you pretty much have to spray it directly onto whatever pest is eating your buds/flowers to kill it/them. Spraying the flower (but not the pest) won't be very effective. It may inhibit or repel larger insects, but I know when it comes to the small stuff, you've got to repeatedly spray over the course of several weeks to eradicate infestations.

I don't see any slime trails (evidence of slugs and snails), but if the problem pest is a slug or snail, I don't think Safer will be very effective either. Just giving you a heads up on that.

I've found that Safer Insecticide Soap damages buds. It causes them to come part way open prematurely. I've never tried it on open flowers. The best product to use is either Ortho Rose & Flower or Bayer Rose & Flower. Those products are available at Home Depot and Lowes or nursery supply stores. They're both designed to be used on open flowers and buds. It works really well except I have one word or caution. Don't use it when buds are mature and almost ready to open. It will stain the flowers. If you use it on green buds or open flowers it will kill the bugs and do no harm. Use the spray mode and spray from a little over a foot away so you get a gentle spray.

Thanks MrHappy and Tucker. I sprayed just the plants and tried to avoid bloom and bud. No chomper visible on the damaged bloom so I made sure slug bate cups are full too. If it comes back, I'll go out to buy a Rose & Flower product. Fingers crossed. Thanks again for the great advice.

Do you have any paper wasps or yellow jackets around? These use the tissue to build nests. Their mandibles always slice out small pieces like shown here.

James, Thanks for the tip. There is definitely a yellow jacket nest in the area and I have been seeing those pests. They're a nasty invasive species here. I'll need to track down nest and homeowner so we can get the exterminator in.