Neem and other fungicides

[orchid_fan]

Hello...I hear a lot of you talking about Neem on this site, and I just wanted to get some more information. I went to the nursery this weekend and found some sprays containing neem oil, but they were not specified for orchid use. (They were labelled for roses/houseplants/flowers.) Is this safe to use on orchids? Is there a specific brand of a neem oil product that anyone can recommend?

Also, I tried dusting with cinnamon yesterday, but was concerned about the sticky residue that it leaves once it comes in contact with water. Is there any reason to worry?

[Paphraguy]

Hi Nancy,

When I apply cinnamon, I do make sure that the applied area stays dry for sometime. Hope this helps.

[orchid_fan]

Thank you Peter. Do you have trouble with the cinnamon flaking off too? Last night, I cut off a flower spike and dusted the tip with cinnamon, only to have it fall off onto the leaves.

[dosal]

Nancy, I recommend you go to Ray's site at www.firstrays.com and check out his homemade remedies regarding cinnamon. I don't use it much anymore since it is not systemic, stains like crazy and if applied to roots dries them out till they die.
Where Neem Oil is concerned Dynagro has pure Neem which applied at 1 Tbsp/gal will keep bugs from feeding on your plants. It is said to enhance everything that you apply by way of spray.I was at Redland week before last and a speaker mentioned that it is great against bugs, but doesn't do a thing against fungus as far as his University tests can tell. I use it as described above with all my applications, simply because it makes for a great sticker.

[Paphraguy]

Nancy, I prefer to use cinnamon only becuase I don't like poison in and or around my house. For me, cinnamon works just fine and I feel safe.

I have never used neem oil but I have heard that it is all hype, absolutely does nothing and somebody came up with a "brilliant" idea to use neem and market it I hope I heard wrong because it seems like a lot of people are using it.

[Máire]

I have zero confidence in Neem other than it's anti-feeder property. Even there I'm not 100% convinced. And I agree the rest is hype.

I use cinnamon occasionally as a preventive. I'll sprinkle some in my hand then apply it to the cut with a old make-up brush. That way it goes where I want and not every place else.

When I have a definite fungal or bacterial problem I waste no time using Phyton27... a systemic.

Máire

[LJA]

We tried the Neem Oil here a couple of times, and while it worked fine as an insecticidal oil, I don't think it does much for fungus either. Nevertheless, it seems to be recommended for that, so until someone actually proves conclusively otherwise, it *is* a "naturally derived" product which makes it more appealing to conservationists.

Here, we use Phyton as well, alternating applications of it with R-D-20, Physan, or just plain old Daconil so nothing has a chance to develop any "immunities."

[e.muehlbauer]

I have tried neem many times...and not been impressed. It stinks, so I only use it outdoors. Personally, I think it is only effective as an insecticidal oil...Sunspray does the same thing, without stinking or forming insoluble globs of fat. As an antifeedant, It has never deterred any mealybugs....although summers outdoors tend to reduce mealies anyway, as they are indoor pests. I can't imagine it being effective as a fungicide. Neem preparations, like the old Safer's brand, may work better, but only if you double the dose. Not worth it overall, in my experience...but it is harmless. Take care, Eric