Chemicals, pesticides, insecticides?

[daemondamian]

I'd like to know how many people here use chemicals, pesticides, insecticides etc in order to treat or prevent pests/infestations and why?

I have frogs in my GH [ones that came in of their own volition] and I hate using toxic type things anyway in general [like draino etc].

I have Eco-oil which is a miticide/pesticide made from emulsified botanical oil concentrates and smells like tea-tree/eucalyptis oil which I have used several times to treat/ prevent aphids, scale, mites and mealy bugs.

Though I'm not convinced it is as good as chemical treatments would be and it leaves an oily residue on the leaves which I don't like.

Also I have used Beat a Bug spray with natural chili, capsicum, and pyrethrum oils as an on site killer but after running out I got Yates pyrethrum spray which has been good for aphids [they turn black and die ] but I seem to continually be spray for aphids in the two 'terrariums' I have inside.

Besides being toxic to the environment don't some of these things also affect us? I have a few older orchid books that recommend using DDT!

[Ross]

I use Safers Soap for insects and Physan 20 for minor cases of mold, etc. That's about it.

[Shadow]

I try not to use chemicals. I hate gloves, masks and all similar things and there is no isolated place where I can work with chemicals. So if I see insect I catch it manually. And if I see rot I use Sandre de Diago drops. And its work better than any chemical thing.

[daemondamian]

Thanks for your input guys

Do you think that if your growing conditions are healthy and your plants are also healthy that they get less pests or pests are going to be a pest regardless?

I like the idea of using natural products over man-made chemical ones because I've read how you need to swap between different chemical ones because the target pests can build up a tolerance and become immune, not good

[smartie2000]

Sometimes I have to rely on chemicals on really bad infestations unfortunately...
I have neem oil and pyrethrins
It's also good to switch with different chemicals because sometimes pests can gain immunity

[Shadow]

I agree that if you use chemicals it is good to switch between them.
If your pants are healthy and your growing conditions are healthy too the plants have less chances to become sick. But you should not rely too heavily on this fact.

[Djarum Black]

I use different methods at different times depending on the problem. I use mostly neem oil and safer soap when I can get away with it. For big problems which I've had very few of (thank goodness) I use Physan 20, or Bayer Rose insecticide.
My best friend is good old fashioned bleach though. I wash the stone floors of my growing room with bleach water about once a month. Keeping the room very clean saves me a whole bunch of trouble.

[Ray]

ENSTAR II

It's an insect growth regulator, not an insecticide, so it will have no impact on other wildlife.

It works by preventing the maturation of all stages of insect - egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

No maturation=
No reproduction=
No more bugs!

[Ross]

I agree that if your growing conditions are safe (sterile) then you will get less bugs/diseases. The key is to quarantine every new plant purchase (besides orchids) before placing the new 'chids with the older folk. I try to repot (where I am able) every new orchid (or at least watch for signs of disease and/or insects.) I have rarely had new introductions of insects and then only from suspect sources.

[daemondamian]

Thanks for all your replies guys

I think I will try out all the natural pest control methods before resorting to chemicals. My main problem is aphids which I have to keep checking for almost daily.

ENSTAR II sounds darn good, I bet it isn't available in
Australia though?