Control Of Pest & Diseases - Which Insecticide/Fungicide Should I Use?
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We all have bugs and diseases on our orchids – it’s your choice as to the way you want to deal with these issues. Do you let nature take its course, do you get out the organic remedies or do you reach for the chemicals – it’s your decision.
Personally, I use chemicals; however, I am mindful that some chemicals kill off the good predators and this can cause an imbalance in the ecosystem of the garden/shadehouse, so I try to use them accurately and only as necessary.
Systemic chemicals travel through the plant and harm any insect that chews or sucks on the plant.
Contact sprays will kill anything the spray contacts. But remember, good bugs don’t chew or suck on the plant anyway. If you are interested in biological control, look up the website www.bugsforbugs.com.au.
Below is a list of chemicals currently available and the bugs or fungus diseases they kill. There are a few organic remedies thrown in, which I do use. LOIS.
CHEMICAL INSECTICIDES/FUNGICIDES FOR USE ON ORCHIDS
PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AS AT JUNE, 2020.
INSECTICIDES
Searles ConguardSystemic control of insect pests - aphids, bronze orange bug, mealybugs, thrips, soft scale, curl grubs, boisduval scale, flyspeck,
Yates Pest OilInsect control contact spray. Controls Citrus leaf miner, red scale, white/pink wax scale, soft brown scale, aphids, mealy bugs, white fly and spider mites, boisduval scale.
Yates SuccessCaterpillars
Pyrethrum/pestoilAphids, thrips, caterpillars, ants, flies.
DipelCabbage moth, white butterfly, caterpillars, grasshoppers.
Derris DustGrasshoppers, caterpillars.
Yates MavrikCaterpillars, aphids, mite.
Yates Rose ShieldSystemic insecticide, mitacide and fungicide. Controls black spot, powdery mildew, aphids, two spotted mites, thrips, caterpillar, whitefly, rust.
Searles TrifendSame as Rose Shield.
Neem Oil Systemic control of Boisduval scale, dendrobium beetle (spray every 5 days - 5ml per litre + detergent) mealy bugs, red spider mite, aphids, scale and thrips.
Isopropyl AlcoholMealybugs, boisduval scale
Baysol,Defender Garlic Snails, snails and slugs
Never use any insecticide that is not specifically labelled for ornamental plants
FUNGICIDES
Searles TrifendSystemic control of black spot, powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose, guingnardia (phyllosticta). Same as Rose Shield
Yates Mancozeb PlusMiticide and fungicide contact spray for petal blight, anthracnose, septoria spot, botrytis, leaf mould, flyspeck, black spot, powdery mildew, glomerella, guingnardia (phyllosticta).
Yates Anti-RotPhosacid systemic fungicide – phytophthora, root rot, collar rot, downy mildew.
Yates Rose ShieldSystemic fungicide: Controls Black spot, powdery mildew, rust, anthracnose, guingnardia (phyllosticta). Same as Trifend.
Yates Greenguard Pythium root rot, Fusarium, Sclerotinia
A wetting agent can be used with chemicals to allow the chemical to spread evenly over the plants rather than remaining in droplets and will penetrate better into those difficult to eradicate pests like scale and mealy bugs.
Always use insecticides/fungicides/ according to directions.
KEEP A DIARY TO RECORD INSECTICIDE/FUNGICIDE SPRAYING AS WELL AS WHEN PLANTS HAVE BEEN FERTILISED
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