Neem oil for orchids and just about everything

[Doug McConnell]

Hello all, are there any of you orchid lovers that use Neem oil for any of your orchid ailments or any other purpose. I have been reading up the uses and benifits of this oil but cannot seem to get my hands on any so far in South Africa.????

[Halloamey]

Douglas you will find conflicting advice on this one. Personally I do not use it even though it is very accessible in India because IMO it causes yellowing of Cattleya and Paph leaves.

[Doug McConnell]

Thanks Halloamey I have been reading the previous forums listed under my post and see the mixed feeling about this oil.This is the beauty of forums,you can see others likes and dislikes.Thanks again for you trouble.
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[Brutal_Dreamer]

I have used a product called Sunoil that mixes with water. It seems to do well for us, though I do not use it on all of my orchids and never spay with it like I do fungicide. I only spray individual plants and wipe the leaves and plant clean after spraying. I do this before taking plants to display at shows or orchid society exhibits.

cheers,
BD

[Cjcorner]

I have tried spraying stuff on leaves and I end up losing plants for it. I like a nice systemic. When I spray plants I try to make sure it is a very windy day. I do a foliar spray twice a month now, but I add a little fungicide in and again, it has to be a windy day. I have certain cattleya that totally despise their leaves wet and for those I don't mist them with anything even on a windy day.

[Brotherly Monkey]

Douglas you will find conflicting advice on this one. Personally I do not use it even though it is very accessible in India because IMO it causes yellowing of Cattleya and Paph leaves.

Hallomey, or anyone else that is cautious about the effects of neem, have you noticed the same issues when treating with a azadirachtin solution?

Azadirachtin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[opaline]

There is always vital concern and risk in IMO with using neem and other horticultural oils and furthermore the strategic timing and hassle and that is the increased chance of multiplying the danger of sunburn. Although you may wipe them, dry them or shut the curtains/ blinds for 24hrs I have not found it pratical at all.

Infact from my experience, unless you can actually implement control measures to avoid all risk of burn and be confident that 12 or 24 hours is long enough to wait until bright/ direct exposure I would seek alternative methods.

Interestingly as Amey has said the yellowing of leaves. Orchids determine their tone of green colour in accordance with level of light. Lime/ yellow green= too much, dark= to little. As paphs have been noted to display lightening of leaves it may be possible to assume the oils magnify the light hitting the leaf??????????maybe? as paphs prefer low light.

Ofcourse this is where the debate kicks in and for and against views unfold. Experience and opinions vary and nothing is set in stone for all, also considering the presence of circumstantial factors i.e sunny, overcast, cloudy, windy, sheltered. As appearance of plant is important I would use alternatives because although the neem may kill an infestation leaving aftermath of scarred leaves I wouldnt want to add insult to injury by risking further damage.

The azid. is a natural alternative pesticide to pyrethrin (chrysanthemum) and although proven effective in helping deal with pests like pyrethrin the question of the source -neem- raises the issue of being oil based or not?.

There are a variety of hort oils some using peach kernel, almond. ......and using neem and other hort oils has alternative uses such as a 'leaf shine' like BD mentioned for exhibition.

Neem does have a huge following and their are many fungicides. pesticides, fertilizers, hormones that all raise debate.

Always use with caution and do a mini test trial. I stick to pyrethrin and fatty acids to aid pest deterrent and swear by a load of other products for its uses and purposes

Hope this helps??????????????We can share our opinions but we cannot force them

Has serious phytotoxicity effects on ferns, epiphyllum, calathea family and many catasetinae and stanhopea.

[kiwiorchids]

I use it on somethings, like my weeping cherry and Beilschmideia tairare to keep aphids away, except orchids. It looks unsightly on the plants, it is sticky, it smells, in general, i just dont use spraying oil at all, except a special pyrethrum oil that i clean the leaves with once a month.

[Kmac]

I use a diluted neem oil solution when needed, either for fungus or mites. It seems to work just fine for me, and I have not noticed any ill effects.