Small bugs.. mini-ants?

[Kerry]

I don't know about the carcinogen bit, but a number of forum members use the 'spray them in the bath and clean it down thoroughly afterwards ' treatment to cut down on the smell and the likelihood of the nasty chemicals going anywhere other than the plant.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

Now I don't know what to do. Your suggested store for the Malathion didn't have any readily available, however I saw some in the box store I was in tonite. Still have not used anything (though I did get the neem oil) and oddly have not seen any bugs anyway. (I think this is similar to the theory of putting the hedge clippers near your orchids to make them bloom. )

Also, my mother was telling me that Malathion is incredibly poisonous, smelly and a carcinogen?

It does have a smell. I actually do not mind the smell, as it goes away fairly quickly. It reminds me that I am spraying poison and that I need to be careful not to get it on me or breath the fumes. As for it being a carcinogen, I am not sure. I would think that if it was that dangerous, that one would need to be licensed to purchase and use it like other dangerous chemicals.

Because I spray in a greenhouse, I use a 1 gal sprayer fairly quickly and afterwards, I go and shower just to make sure I did not let the chemical residue settle on my body. When using any poison, just be careful.

Cheers,
BD

[Phyrex]

I still freak out with fertilizer, I suppose I'm a bit OCD. *Must wash hands*

[Shaydra]

Me too. I wash my hands between watering each orchid, too. And then there is the scrubbing after repotting (I get the media under my nails).

Hmm, all things considered (like my kitties who like to sniff and rub on leaves), I think I'll try the neem oil first and if that doesn't work, I found a place that has the malathion. As I said, since I bought the oil, the bugs packed up and went on vacation (permanently?).

Thanks for all the info!!!!

I still freak out with fertilizer, I suppose I'm a bit OCD. *Must wash hands*

[padams2359]

I noticed the same bugs on the window sill since i purchased my 8 last Friday. Not a lot of them, just every once and a while i will see a couple. They are easy to see because my sills are white. I have several plants on the sill, and do not want to loose them. 4 orchids, 8 cactus, and my sons convenced me to buy them a Venus Fly Trap that he hasn't paid attention to since we got home. I did not think to use Malathion on them out of pure fear. I do spray it on my orange trees along with Viosk Oil to control the black fungus and afids. I do remember years ago when I had orchids I had an afid invasion, and the malathion helped the problem then, but do not remember if it cause any long term problems on the orchids.

[Diane]

I use malathion on my orchids when I get scale. It works very well and has never hurt a plant (Although I have never used it on paphs or phals, just catt alliance). I ALWAYS use it outdoors. It is actually more harmful to breath the vapors than to get it on your skin, but neither is a good thing. Just watch the air movement when spraying so you don't get a lung full. Then wash up thoroughly afterwards.

Neem doesn't seem to work well for me except for mealies.

[padams2359]

After using it last weekend, I do not know how anyone can get to close to that stuff unless they are seriously Olfactory impared. Are we talking about just lightly spraying the medium (maybe with a water bottle set on mist) with the stuff, or give the whole plant a good quick once over and leaving outside to dry?

[Diane]

Here is what I do:

1. get inexpensive paper mask from store

2. mix malathion per instructions

3. put on mask

4. spray plants thoroughly, both tops and bottoms of leaves and top of media

5. let plants dry outside BUT NOT IN DIRECT SUN

6. go wash up

7. move plants (when dry) back to their 'homes'

[Becky15349]

Hi all,

I've seen some tiny bugs and whatnot crawling potting media from time to time, but I don't think they really hurt the plants...some of them are just wood mites and stuff...they're gross, but really aren't terribly harmful to the plants, imho.

[Shaydra]

But... but... they're BUGS!!!! and .... they're INDOORS!!!!

My other concern is that my kitties like to rub and lick my orchid leaves... and occasionally take a taste (and get bopped). And I'm asthmatic....

I'll try the neem and pray.