Mealybugs and buds

[Germinatorman]

Any hints on how to keep mealybugs off buds? Just as soon as a bud gets juicy and starts oozing sugar water, the mealies attack. Just lost a whole spike of Laelia milleri buds in just one day. I have sprayed with alcohol and then rinsed with water but they just keep coming.

[orchidlady]

You have to get rid of them at the source. They love to get in all the nooks and crannies as well as hiding in the potting media, waiting for those succulent buds. You might want to consider repotting the plant and treating the whole plant by washing in insecticidal soap. You might also consider a systemic. Regardless, the whole plant needs to be treated.

Susan

[espranch]

Alcohol alone doesn't do it. I use water, 60 %, alcohol, 20%, & regular 409 20%. I spray the whole plant, plus the media. Seems to work for my orchids...Hope this helps. I also watch, and pick them off & kill them. THIS REALLY WORKS WELL! Betty :-)

[Germinatorman]

Thanks Susan and Betty. I have been battling these things for months and I would love to bomb but I grow in the basement. I would love to use something more natural like Betty eludes to. I move all my larger plants outside and I am going to let the natural predators do a job on them and then hit the plants well before moving them back inside in the fall.

[espranch]

Don, If you have a garden center around where you live, you might be able to find LIVE ladygugs for sale. THEY LOVE TO EAT mealy bugs! Other than that, you can use anything that is used on roses, and at the same amount of solution. I have done so, with no harm done to the orchid. Betty

[Germinatorman]

Interesting, I have been using Ortho Rose and Garden spray and it seems to help significantly. It is just that I am so happy to get a rupiculous laelia to rebloom and those nasty little buggers wiped me out for this year.............

[orchidlady]

I prefer natural, less toxic methods myself. My first choice is alcohol, then neem oil or insecticidal soap. With any oil-based product you just have to be careful about exposure to sun, light and heat after or the plant can burn.

Susan

[Germinatorman]

Fortunately these guys are in my basement and have fans moving the air around including a fan on the lights to keep the heat dispersed. Thanks for the hint Susan. Is it actually possible to remove all of these pests or simply to keep their numbers down?

[espranch]

Hey you two...I prefer natural, also. That is, whenever I can. However, when I REALLY have a pest (bug) problem, out comes my old bottle of Cygon 2 E. Now THAT solves the problem. Glad I still have some, because I don't know if it's made anymore...Betty

[orchidlady]

Fortunately these guys are in my basement and have fans moving the air around including a fan on the lights to keep the heat dispersed. Thanks for the hint Susan. Is it actually possible to remove all of these pests or simply to keep their numbers down?

With dedicated perseverence yes, but it can be difficult. A number of years ago I had a horrendous case of scale from a plant that came back from a show infested and I didn't realize it . It took a really long time and a lot of alcohol, soap, and ultimately sending the original infested plant to the big greenhouse in the sky. At times it is like . If the plants are outside, the big guns might be a good choice for you, but be careful of animals and children.

Susan