Confession time . . .

[blackvine]

I've been growing orchids since September of 2012. Have had blooming success over the last 6 months - ie, several genera other than Brassavola and Phalaenopsis, which seem easy to bloom inside or out (for me) , are BLOOMING! So, this is the first year I've bit the bullet and summered my orchids outside.

I say "bit the bullet", because here is my confession: In October of 2012, I bought some "summered out" Phalaenopsis from a grower in my area, and when I got them home, 3 or 4 earwigs crawled out of the pot. I freaked. Now, believe it or not I GARDEN - very successfully, but earwigs are the one thing that truly creep me out. Not a clue why, but they do.

Here's my question . . . when I bring my 20ish orchids in, in late September, early October, how do I diminish the possibility of earwigs crawling out of the pots?

OK. There it is. My confession - my irrational fear of earwigs. Can you help??

[Bulbofett]

What I've done in the past is to dunk each orchid in a bucket of water. This either drowns the bugs or makes them crawl out of the pot. I had a few cockroaches last year *shudder*. This year I put out bug traps. Might be something to consider in the future. I'm hoping I don't see a single roach this year.

[james mickelso]

Mix up a batch of Safer Soap and water in a 5 gallon (or smaller amount if you don't have a ton of orchids) bucket and dunk each orchid up the the top of the pot. Let it sit for a minute or so. This will either drive the critters out or kill them off. I use Bayer 3-1 for the task. I pour the left overs on the plants in my yard or down the toilet. The amount you are using has no measurable effect down stream.

[Orchid Whisperer]

I would advise against any approach that involves dunking multiple pots in the same bucket of solution. See virus prevention guidelines at Critter Creek Laboratory

Dunk each plant in its own solution & discard. Or spray.

[Brooke]

When I summered my 'chids outside I would use Sevin powder sprinkled over the top of the media, then watered it lightly to distribute into the pot.

All hitchhikers voluntarily left the pots plus it also kills any fungus gnat larvae getting ready to sneak into my inside grow space.

We had a very harsh winter and supposedly that cuts down on the bug population. For some reason earwings and grandaddy longlegs thought it was viagra and reproduced like crazy.

Please heed the advice given by the Orchidwhisperer - sharing the same water from plant to plant will spread any unknown virus you might have in your collection.

Brooke

[katrina]

I've always done a "preventative" systemic a couple of weeks before the big move...whether I saw anything or not. I do a good job of checking things over before they come inside and I don't like spraying unless I see something BUT a couple of missed insects can erupt into a major problem after a few weeks inside. Since I started doing this I have never had a major infest of any kind over the long cold winter months.

In the past I've had some issues w/ants and spiders..they aren't affected by the systemic and/or they sneaked onto the plants after the spraying and since they don't eat the plant...they were able to hitch a ride into the house. So, last year I adopted Brooke's Sevin protocol (1 week before the big move) and it did an excellent job of eliminating those hitchhikers. I would always get earwigs in the past in all my plants...I don't think I found but maybe one last winter and I'm not even sure that came from a plant pot. I also didn't see any of those nasty centipede thingees last winter. Centipedes creep me out but SPIDERS are my 'send me running out of the room screaming' critters and I know I didn't bring in any of those very fast and very scary grass spiders. I can take just about anything...except most spiders. EEEEEKS! OH! And no crickets this past winter! Not that I'm afraid of crickets but they've always liked hitching a ride in on the large non-orchid houseplants and let me just say...it's very annoying to have one chirping in your house all night long.

Originally Posted by Brooke

We had a very harsh winter and supposedly that cuts down on the bug population. For some reason earwings and grandaddy longlegs thought it was viagra and reproduced like crazy.


Brooke

[blackvine]

Thanks, all! I will adopt Brooke's Sevin protocol and pray to God it gets at least the earwigs. Kat, I can handle spiders. Earwigs? EEEEEEEEEEEKKKKK!!!

[Bulbofett]

Just throwing this out there. Sevin (carbaryl) is a highly toxic pesticide. I'm more of an organic gardener anyways, but be careful when using this product. The bad bugs may be who your target is, but beneficial insects are also affected. With the bee and butterfly populations at an all time low I'm hoping use of such toxic chemicals decreases.

[blackvine]

Bulbo, I get it. Actually, I'm an organic gardener, too - I have a HUGE garden border (about 200 feet all around the property by 6 or 7 feet wide) and use NOTHING to treat any issues. If the plant can't deal, it just dies. I feel very strongly about the use of toxins that penetrate soil and can get into groundwater. I know that Sevin is highly toxic and not selective, but I have about 25 orchids in 3 bins outside and, honestly, I feel OK about using the relatively tiny amount that I will use to combat the bugs. But, I'm with ya, sista. I just believe in the "everything in moderation" idea, including organic growing. When it doesn't make sense or create an issue, dismiss it.

[katrina]

I ditto Blackvine's sentiments. I don't want to get into a debate over insecticides vs "all natural"...it's a topic that has been beaten into the ground on this forum. But, I will say I don't overuse products such as this and I am very careful when I find their use is called for.

I understand it's not a "target" pest control...which is why it's so effective on a multitude of pests. The granules being watered into the pots makes for a "safer" application method vs. if one was to use a spraying application.

But, yes, as w/many products we use today (including the laundry detergents many people use!) caution must taken to follow the label instructions and use responsibly.

Bottom line... We were asked what we do...we responded. Feel free to post up your "organic" solution to the OP's problem.