Orchid Q&A
* Air Conditioning
* Ansellia africana
* Aquarium Water
* Back Cutting
Black Growths
* Calanthe Culture
Catts in Hawaii
* Change of Environment
* Cymbidiella rhodocheila
* Culture of Alba Orchids
* Dehydration
Dendrobium Care
* Dendrobium Repotting
Dendrochilum magnum
* Dormancy
* Dry Conditions
* Epsom Salts
Eulophia species
Fertilizer Injector Dosage
* Flowering Vanilla
* Habenaria rhodocheila
Holcoglossum kimballiana
* Inobulbum munificum
* Jewel Orchids
* Judging Orchids
* Leaf Color
Leaf Residue
* Leaftip Burn
* Liparis viridiflora
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Q.
I have been fighting an ongoing mealybug infestation in my Phalaenopsis collection for more than two years. Using insecticides has caused me more problems than it cured. Lately, I have been using Ultrafine Sun Oil pesticide, but if I stop for a week, the bugs come right back. I have been told that systemic pesticides do not work on orchids. Is this true? Can you recommend a safe and effective pesticide for my problem? — Steven Schneider
A.
I have never found systemic insecticides particularly effective against mealybugs. However, Orthene does seem to be good for treatment when used at the strength recommended on the label. Because mealybugs are such a problem with fast-growing, soft-leaved orchids like Phalaenopsis, it is important to bring them under control, and then treat as necessary to keep an infestation from reestablishing. The classic prescription is to treat every seven to 10 days for three treatments, alternating insecticides. For example, you might choose to use Orthene and Malathion. The use of a wetting agent is also important with mealybugs to penetrate their waxy coatings. —
Ned Nash
The best time to control mealybugs is when there are just a few. They multiply rapidly and control becomes difficult. . photo º 1998 Greg Allikas
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Orchid Q&A
* Masdevallia coccinea
* Mastering Miltonias
* Maxillaria sophronitis
* Mealybug Infestation
* Meristemming Monopodials
Missing Pollen
* Night Length
* Night Lights
* No Flowers
* Non-flowering Doritaenopsis
Odontocidium Wildcat
* Oncidium Sharry Baby
* Orchid Honeydew
* Paphinia herrerae
* Paphiopedilum armeniacum
* Paphiopedilum delenatii
* Phaius Culture
Phalaenopsis Problem
* Phalaenopsis Spiking
Physurus herpysmoides
* Plant Sitter
* Rainwater Collection
* Redwood Bark
Re-rooting Plants
Spotted Oncidum Leaves
* Sticking Flowers
Storing Pollen
* The Larger the Better
Vanda Keiki
* Virus Question
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