I spray all mealybugs and soak the pot with 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. Straight as bought from the store. Works like a charm, I use a cotton-tipped swab to wedge open leaf crevices and allow the peroxide solution to flow into the crevices further. Does not seem to harm the plants or buds, but I have not yet sprayed it upon open flowers. Oh yeah, and I love to see the little buggers sizzle away and anything that crawled into the medium come out squirming. All plants coming in from outside in the fall get a 1 percent dilution drench and soaking in a pan. May kill bacteria and fungi and promote the life of the medium too. I have sensitive paphs, brachy and parvi types, that I'm always afraid to water so I just pour a dab of the peroxide into my water supply for those specific plants every time I water.
Bonaventure Magrys "Mad Scientist" in Cliffwood Beach, NJ ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2006 09:00:46 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [OGD] Chadwick's column / mealybugs To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed "mealybugs... they not only crawl but are blown about by the slightest air movement. ... first appear as they congregate around the edges on the undersides of leaves. Then they move to the leaf axils and crevices, where they become increasingly hard to remove. Their final push is ascending the tall flower spike and covering the buds and flowers with their trademark drippy, cottony substance. ... remove the plant from the pot and discard both the pot and potting medium. Gently rinse the leaves and roots with water until no mealies are visible (plenty are still hiding). Spray all leaf surfaces until they are dripping with a pyrethrum or horticultural oil solution. Let the plant dry in a shady area. Replant it in a fresh pot in fresh medium. Spray weekly for a month and be sure to inspect nearby plants." article URL : http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855936376&c=MGArticle&cid=1149191836304&path=%21flair%21hg
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