Talstar pesticide
 

Does anyone use this product? Reading the label it is very safe to use around foods and kitchens and safe on ornamentals. But tough enough to kill 3/4 of our orchid pest.

It is derived from Chysanthemum, a pyrethroid. In my country the licensing has exspired four years ago.
But in general pyrethroids can be applied on orchids as insecticides.

Talstar is a manuf/copyrighted name for Bifenthrin (sp?) and it will kill a lot of insects but the term "safe" is subjective. It's "safer" than some but one should still follow proper precautions when mixing/spraying (gloves, eye prot., etc) as you would w/any other insecticide. It's still an insecticide...albeit a contact only and not systemic...so you still want to follow the label directions/take precautions.

It's safe for most plants. And good for perimeter/foundation pest control as well as something like treating kennels for fleas/etc. Follow label directions and keep pets/animals/kids/humans out of the area until the spray is dry. Once it's dry pets/etc can return to the area. Same concept w/plants...once dry you can return to the shelf/indoors.

It's not a systemic - contact kill only.


Never use this around water. It's highly toxic to fish.

IMHO, if you're looking for something to treat just your houseplants/orchids...I think there are better options available. Especially if you only need to treat a small number of plants.