Pests and Diseases

[R Srinivasan]

Originally Posted by lyn

I have heard that smokers should not touch orchids without washing thier hands first because of tobacco mosaic virus. Is that true? Is the chewing tobacco different from smoking tobacco? Also how often do you spray? I also have an ant problem and was using safers soap but it only knocks them down for about a week. Do ants hurt orchids? I heard they bring aphids! Is that true?

I guess commercially sold tobacco are free from TMV. Infected crops are burnt down along with normal crop in the vicinity. I have used tobacco+tea solution without any damage to my plants for years. I use chewing tobacco because it contains more nicotine. Mealy bugs and aphids prefer softer dicot plants like roses, hardy annuals rather orchids with thier waxy tough leaves. Ants are attracted by sugary secretion on the leaves of matured plants and on the emerging spikes. Mealy bugs and scales come adfrift in the wind to colonise on plants.

[gands]

Great article,

There is a bit of a mis-conception about Tobacco mosaic virus I think. It is a virus that is found on Tobacco plants........hence the name. it can attack orchids as well, but really has nothing to do with smokers.

Also I would add that using tobacco as a pesticide works well because the nicotine in tobacco has a high degree of natural pyretherin in it. Forgive me, I'm not much of a speller LOL

As a side note, I have used a nicotine mixture for eliminating carpenter bees. Simply use a 50-50 mix of water and alcohol in a liter bottle and add 20-30 used cigarette butts to it. let it leach for about a week in the sun, kinda like making sun tea. then strain the mixture into a 2 gallon pump up sprayer, and spray into the holes that the bees make in wood..........They drop faster than you can shake a stick! Works on wasps as well and its cheaper than buying Raid !

[lyn]

Ants are the biggest problem I have. I grow out by our screened in pool in the summer and they are on all the new buds and growths after the sugar. I have used safer soap, neem oil, a mix of dawn, alchohol and vegetable oil but I have to use it every 2 or three days! I was thinking about trying orthene, a systemic, so I do not have to spray as much. I hate using chemicals so I have not done it yet. I am also considering calling in a professional but I have pets that roam the pool deck and yard and really do not want chemicals around them. Has anyone tried a good systemic pesticide? Since benlate killed everything, have they come out with a good systemic fungicide? ~L~

[R Srinivasan]

Originally Posted by lyn

Ants are the biggest problem I have. I grow out by our screened in pool in the summer and they are on all the new buds and growths after the sugar. I have used safer soap, neem oil, a mix of dawn, alchohol and vegetable oil but I have to use it every 2 or three days! I was thinking about trying orthene, a systemic, so I do not have to spray as much. I hate using chemicals so I have not done it yet. I am also considering calling in a professional but I have pets that roam the pool deck and yard and really do not want chemicals around them. Has anyone tried a good systemic pesticide? Since benlate killed everything, have they come out with a good systemic fungicide? ~L~

I wonder why should you use benlate to kill pests. It is an excellent fungicide to stem soft rot in phalaenopsis. For controlling ants the best I feel is carbofuran crystals available under different brand names. It is the same substance used in dog tick powder. No harm has come to my dog which like others of its tribe keeps licking its coat several times a day. Sprinkle carbofuran(also called carbaryl) around the growing medium and the ants will never seen around anymore. Since most of us water our orchids religiously every day washing out any pesticide (contact) applied earlier. This stand true to both organic and chemical pesticides. The two systemic pesticide that comes to my mind is cypermetherin and dimethoate. Check out the brands containing these chemicals and you should be free of the ants.

[lyn]

Do not wonder why I use benlate to kill pests! I know it is a fungicide that was made by Dupont that put allot of fern growers in our area out of business and I believe I heard they put Jones and Scully Orchids out of business, among other growers! I was just trying to see what other orchidists are using for a systemic fungicide. Are you using it on your Phals. and if so is it a new formula? Have you used cypermetherin and dimethoate on orchids? I am definetly interested in the carbaryl but wonder how long it will last. I recently purchased some Fire Ant killer from Safer but have not tried it yet. I know fire ants are different from sugar ants so it may not help. Thanks so much for the info! ~L~

[R Srinivasan]

American Orchid Society's jounal( mid seventys) Wherein well known orchidist Rebecca Tyson Northern elaborated on lethal dose factor of several pesticides.Today there more advanced formulations which are released in the market after extensive field trial.Moreover, the modern marketing mantra is customer care through help lines. Please make full use of them through online. It is so much easier than letting fear to rule your mind.

[4page]

thanks for the article and all the extra information from other members. The article has a picture of leaf spots and I have that problem on many of my orchids. Please tell what kind of problem it is since I tried all kinds of chemical from physan to neem oild. They did not go away.

[lyn]

If I were you I would take a plant to your local agricultural extension service and let the master gardeners look at it. Also if there is an orchid society in your area that might be worth a try. Every plant I took to the Volusia County Orchid Society, there was a member who knew what to do. Also , do you have good air movement around your plants? That seems to help the ones I grow because most of them are the kind that grow in the tops of trees. Good Luck!

[Shadow]

Just noticed this article. It's very useful. Thanks a lot!

[4page]

thanks Lyn. That is a good idea. I will have to learn how to post the picture so everybody can see the problem too. I am slow in new tech.