mealies

[princessbydezine]

EEKK..... I was just watering today and found three of these buggers .... How do I get rid of them?? I already wiped off the leaves with alcohol.... what else am I to do.

[Ross]

Notta. I think you got them. Watch carefully and get the next crop (there will probably be one) the same way.

[Randy]

Gads, I hate mealie bugs! They are the worst. I just noticed a Cymbidium looking rather terrible and gave it a good lookover and found them deep in the cracks and crevices. They weren't out in the open but burried in the leaves. AARRGGHHH!!!! It's like they truly know where to hide so that you can't find them. They are evil bugs and they make me fighting mad! I can't say for sure if this Cym. is going to make it because I am going to have to take off a lot of leaves to get to these little buggers. Good thing it's not one of my more expensive ones!

In addition to alcohol if I need to I will use real pesticide if the plant is bad enough. I will be using a pesticide on this Cym.

Good luck with yours!
Randy

[Tindomul]

I have only had luck with real pesticides as well. They hide too well for conventional methods.

[Gin]

I agree, don't wait to use the heavy guns .. Gin

[Shirley]

I find that systemics work best for mealy bugs as they sure can find the hiding places! Unfortunately I have to wait until warm weather so I can do this outside. My room is to small to do the spraying indoors.

[princessbydezine]

systemics??? is that a brand of pesticide??? if not whats the best brand to use? and how often should I spray???

[ipv6ready]

Originally Posted by princessbydezine

systemics??? is that a brand of pesticide??? if not whats the best brand to use? and how often should I spray???

Systematics is a term used for strong chemicals that can either be a pesticide or a fungicide taken in by the roots/leaves of the plant. Thereafter for a given time period the whole plant becomes poisionous to whatever you are getting trying to kill.

Think of contact pesticide as machine gunning your target ie you need to actually touch it to kill it, where as Systemactics are like Nuking it.

PS: not sure you can get a fungicide and pesticide in one package though in Australia it is one or the other.

[princessbydezine]

Ohh ok...I understand. I looked at work today (Home Depot) and found all the insect killers that were made for indoor applications and read the labels....none said they were ok to use on orchids.... So I called the companies to ask. The first two said no it was not safe, the third gentleman I got was like try it... and in a few days you'll know if the plant can take it or not, He must not understand what I'm dealing with.


So I guess for now I will stick with the alcohol untill i find what product I need to be using.


Thanks

[BrixhamChris]

I haven't had my orchids long but have already had a mealy bug problem. I initially tried methylated spirit which was OK but they kept returning. I eventually bought a systemic pesticide that stated it would eradicate mealybugs. It did state that it may take 2 to 3 applications depending on the severity of infestation. I've not seen any evidence of them since the third application. They were always more prolific when the plant was in bloom. Well they've bloomed since and still no mealies!! Dunno if I can mention the product name on here so to err on the side of caution I wont. As I'm a newbie I don't want to break any rules.