Aphids

[jpchandler207]

Just back to Maine from Thailand and I have an orchids that is infected with aphids. I am sure this is an old topic but is Neem Oil still the best remedy? Other ideas are more than welcome

[Lana]

You can get rid of aphids by spraying them with water with some dish soap added. Make sure you get the underside of the leaves. Do it for several days in a row, and they should be gone. I also tried ladybugs a couple of years ago My friends thought I was crazy. You can buy a box of ladybugs and release them right after the sunset, so they don't fly away at night. It was really amusing to see ladybugs munching on aphids. But I have to say, dish soap worked better for me.

[jpchandler207]

Thanks. I will definitely give this a try.
Cheers,
Joe

[RosieC]

I didn't get on with ladybirds/ladybugs because they kept flying away (I think they liked other spots in my garden better).

I also did not get on with dishsoap, but I probably didn't apply it enough if Lana says every day for a while I just did one, then a second a week later when they were still there.

In the end last time I used an commercially available spray, organic and safe for roses, as I had heard that ones safe for roses are usually safe for orchids as well. I removed a keiki off the affected plant before treatment just in case it killed the plant (washed the keiki thoroughly in soapy water). It was fine though and the aphids were gone completely.

[Bud]

try this:

10 drops dish soap
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon extract(any supermarket aisle=McCormick the brand I have)
2 cups tepid water from the sink

shake well in the spray bottle and add a stick of cinnamon bark

spray until the plant is soaked

make some more to soak for 5 min. the pot and the media to kill the eggs

repeat next week and weekly until the bugs are gone

*this kills flies, cockroaches and mosquitos on contact
but harmless to humans and pets

[jpchandler207]

Thanks for the great advice. I will report back how successful these are.
Have a great weekend.
Joe