Bug Bomb greenhouse
 

Though I use Listerine as a general preventative spray along with a miticide for mites and slug bait, I'm thinking of using a bug bomb to completely sterilze greenhouse of all critters. Is this dangerous to orchids? I'm anxiously awaiting anyone's advice on this idea. Thanks!

I would be cautious about using a bomb that was not made for greenhouse use as it may contain an oil base that could possibly be harmful to orchids. You can buy bombs meant for use in a greenhouse but don't expect that you will "completely sterilize greenhouse of all critters". To completely sterilize the greenhouse of all critters you would need to use one of the extremely dangerous and (for good reason) highly restricted organophosphates.

What do you use as a miticide? I have found mites to be my biggest pest problem and I have half a dozen miticides that I can use in rotation.

:blushing: Thank you for your opinion. I suspected it would not be safe to use a bug bomb as it is an oil base. I guess I'll continue to use bug bait. As far as a miticide, I use Kelthane. Yes, I know it was pulled off the market several years ago but I bought 4 pints of it before it was pulled off. The only other miticide I've used is Malathion Plus. I can't imagine having numerous miticides as you do. That's just too much hassle for me even though I know insects can build a resistance to chemicals and I understand why you would go to such extent. I haven't had much of a problem with spider mites with my orchids except on Phals. I'm amazed that so many insecticides claim to control spider mites but they just don't do as well as Kelthane.
Now, I need your opinion about a fungicide. I have only used "Manzoneb" so far. I'm out and need to get more but looked at all the fungicides at my nursery but they are all geared towards foliar problems and not for soaking for root rot and most are an oil base and I'm afraid they're not safe for soaking orchid roots. Manzoneb is not an oil base but is there a fungicide that you prefer just for orchids? I would appreciate you comments about a fungicide when you have time to reply. Thank you.

I use orthene spray and make my own from ortho orthene fire ant killer at 1 tbsp per gallon with 1 tbsp of dish soap(palmolive). I read its highly recommended by orchid growers and relatively inexpensive. It smells too. Not too bad but does have an odor. If your using malathion you are familiar with odor. I started using the orthene to start bec I was getting a lot of ants all over the floor in my greenhouse farming the sand. Then I found orchid people use it for general purposes mixed and sprayed. You could even dip you plants in it. The more I read about these ants the more I learned they farmed aphids, mealy bugs etc etc etc for the nectar. Die ants!!! They were climbing all over my spikes to get the nectar from the tips of the buds too. Double Die Ants!!! So I douse with orthene and the soap it was all over. Havent seen any ants since and it didnt seem to bother the frogs or lizards that much :waving

THANK YOU! I will certainly remember your advice should I have a pr0blem with ants.

ahh not just good for ants but a good all purpose insecticide that you can even spray on blooms to ward off and kill the dreaded bloom eatin thrips...its good even of you dont have ants :hello

Oh, glad to know that also. Thank you!

for a safe bug bomb you can use these pyrethrin bombs i sell:
Doktor Doom Insect Fogger | Planet Natural

for ants you can take boric acid, mix it with peanut butter/jelly or anything the ants will like and they will haul to poison down into the nest and feed it to the queen. works very well and safe.

Thank you so much for this information. Let me ask you, is there any petroleum base in this fogger?

The only other ingredient besides pyrethrin is piperonyl butoxide which is a insecticide synergist that makes it last longer/more affective. The product used to be considered organic until people considered "if you add a product to something organic to make it more affective, is the organic product still organic?"