Would someone please recommend an efficient way to rid Paphs of mealybugs.
I've used insecticidal soap and parafinic oil weekly, and occasional spray of
Bayer Rose and Flower Insect killer (cyfluthrin + imidacloprid), but the bugs
reemerge when I stop. Do the bugs hide down in the potting media? Do I need to
drench the media with soap or something more aggressive?
Will Cassano Reisterstown, MD
Jumpin' Jeehosephat!! A question I can help with!!
I feel your pain. Those things nearly infected all my paphs this year, too. Is it global warming or what?
You name it, I tried it. And swear to Buddha nothing worked but the real EnstarII. There are other methods, some blending EnstarII with Orthene WP and a surfactant (soap) but it was the EnstarII that finally got the buggers.
Please note that the package directions state that you have to use a higher concentration as a 1st dose and best results are when you soak the plant pot and all in a bucket of the stuff because mealies will live under the bark, or amongst the sheathes or under the lip of the pot or any dang place they want to. May was well clean the bench tops too, cause they'll live there .
So you gotta be craftier than they are 1st time out. Dunk 'em. Then srpay like normal - plant and bark - 10 days later (it might read 7 - 10 days later) with a reduced concentration. You GOTTA do the follow up.
The stuff aint cheap. As a matter of fact its as expensive as hell. But it works.
I found mealies hiding under flat pieces of bark, using it as umbrella protection from top watering in any previous treatments I tried with insecticidal soap, malathione, or plain orthene WP. They would hide in the tight fans of last year's growth, even after I'd squished them then washed the area with insecticidal soap.
This year these guys are mean.
I think I'm going to repot, too. If I do I'm going to bake my potting medium in the oven at about 300F for 20 minutes or so. Just in case they came in on the potting material in the first place. I was soooo proud of myself that I repotted them this year and blammo! Mealies galore.
I got the stuff in a bulk purchase with a friend. But I understand you can get it online at a rose site.... arrgh. of course I can't remember it now.
K Barrett N Calif, USA
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