Neem Oil vs Safer Insect Soap & Alcohol

[Ray]

Tess, all I can guess is that you are not treating properly. Every surface of all of the plants must be thoroughly wetted at each treatment, and the same chemicals should be used for a complete cycle of treatments. Missing some surfaces or switching chemicals after a single dose won't do.

For example, if I have a bad infestation, I use a combination of Orthene or Merit (Bayer Tree & Shrub) and Enstar II, at the label recommended curative rate for each. I thoroughly douse every surface of every plant, also soaking the potting medium. I repeat that twice more at weekly intervals, and that does the trick.

[quiltergal]

Since scale is a "juice sucker" would a systemic be more useful? I know there are time released ones available as a granular. Could you combine a systemic with something like Neem, or would you go right for the big guns.

I just spent an hour today alcohol swabbing the little bast@#ds off my new Beallara. It's in quarantine, and has been since it arrived on Friday. No way it's going to play with the other chids until I'm sure it's scale free.

[b_vanfossen]

I hate to say it but alcohol and a tooth brush is a proven method for scale. Today i noticed scale and have alot of plants. I bought triazide (spelled something like that) by spectracide and sprayed it today. It says it kills over 180 bugs with 2 months of protection, and it is guranteed. I'll post results in a few days.

btw- i bought it at Lowes Hardware store (like home depot)

Brian

[goodgollymissmolly]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

I
The following mixture was recommended by another OB member and comes from the COC's newsletter Sept. 2004. It seems to work quite well, as you cam mix it and uses it whenever you spot something that 'bugs' you.

Add to 1 litre of water:
30 ml concentrated 35% H2O
20 ml alcohol;
2 ml detergent (to act as a binder)

Dave, I'm sure you meant H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide). I caution you about mixing any oxidizing agent with other chemicals unless you are absolutely certain about the results. The two common oxidizing agents available to most people are hydrogen peroxide and clorox (sodium hypochlorite). These are very reactive products and can cause release of dangerous reaction products or fires. I'm sure you recall the deaths resulting from mixing toilet bowl cleaner with clorox. Chlorine gas resulted in several deaths to housewifes.

The regular poster here cannot possibly predict the results of mixing HP or clorox with other chemicals. This is even more true when you talk about 35% HP which is really a strong oxidizing material. Just because these are commonly available materials does not mean they are safe. Virtually every pesticide label cautions against mixing with oxidizing agents.

Be careful. I'm not an overly cautious person. Some people think I'm chemical Ali, but mixing oxidizing agents is not in my bag of acceptable tricks. This is DANGEROUS!

[Oscarman]

Good point Jim, I certainly did mean H2O2. Indeed it is a powerful oxidizing chemical. In the battle against bugs we all need to exercise caution when handling any chemical.

Cautionary steps when working with any chemical could include:
- use in well ventilated space
- use chemicals that are the least toxic and appropriate for your growing space
- wearing appropriate personal protective equipment
during mixing, application and disposal
- showering and changing attire after application
- seal off the treated areas until safe to re-enter
- proper labeling of chemical containers and solutions
- controlled storage of chemicals and solutions
- proper disposal of containers and excess solutions

In my area 35% hydrogen peroxide is available at most hydroponic stores.

I would hate to give the wrong idea to anyone, so please do not mix hydrogen peroxide or clorox with other pesticides and spray them on your plants.

[Oscarman]

Originally Posted by Ray

Besides, hydrogen peroxide is very unstable, so within minutes of being mixed with metal ions or organics, or being exposed to light, it will decompose.

Ray I have to disagree with you on this point. I have a 500 ml bottle of the solution I suggested that has been mixed for 4 weeks now and exposed to fluorescent light 12 hrs per day. Tonight while using it, some solution made contact with my fingers and the oxidizing properties of the HP is definitely as active as it was when first mixed.