Leo Schordje
wilted blossom
Enstar should be used as part of a cocktail - never use it alone
I'm reading this thread for the first time. If you have more than 50 orchids you really should not fool around with half measures. It is possible to kill off mealy bug infestations completely, but you must resort to chemical warfare.
First - about Enstar II, according to the original Sandoz labelling it was not designed to be used alone. It is not efective that way. It was designed to be used as part of a tank mix (cocktail) when applied to the plant. The other component originally recomended was Mavrik, another Sandoz product that is a relatively inexpensive 2nd generation synthetic pyrethroid. The combination at manufacturer's recomended dose works wonders. When I find a mealie infestation I spray my collection with this mix twice, about 10 to 14 days apart. And that is it. I have had 100% kill of all pests with this mixture. Generally I do this in the Fall, after a frost so that I get few or no new recruits from outside. My collection will stay clean until mid summer following. Which means there are no significant populations of mealies hiding and survivng. The new recruits come in from outside or come in on new acquisitions.
Tank mix cocktails that have worked for me include:
Mavrik + Enstar II
Mavrik + Enstar II + Pentac WP + 2 drops wetter sticker
Decathalon WP + Enstar II + Pentac WP + 2 drops wetter sticker
Decathalon WP + Enstar II + wetter sticker
Merit + Enstar II
Merit + Enstar II + Pentac WP
The patttern is use a cocktail, use WP or AD formulations when possible. (fewer problems with effects from the solvents) I add Pentac WP when I see evidence of spider mites or false spider mites. The 3 part cocktail kills 'em all and lets God sort 'em out.
These chemicals are not cheap to buy, but are very effective in these types of combinations and become cheap to use because they work, which means you use them less often.
You must wear protective gear, and must get out of the growing area until the foliage is dry once you have used these things. Take a shower afterward, change clothes. don't go back into the greenhouse or growing area until the next day.
My collection is too valuable to fool around with half measures. So I do what the commercial guys do. When I use this mix on 'house plants' or orchids that are grown in the home, I move all the plants to an outdoor patio (weather permitting) or a garage. Then spray there. Clean the house area where the plants were before putting the plants back. Bring the plants back in once they are dry. Key is spray everybody, don't skip any plants because they look 'clean', sure enough this is where a pregnant mealie will be hiding.
There are other chemicals that work, but key is, 2 applications, close enough together that juvinal mealies from eggs hatching after the intitial spray don't have a chance to mature and start egg laying before the second spray. The second key is use a cocktail that include a growth hormone regulator. This is what really breaks the pernicious infestations. Use it in the cocktail.
Cheers
Leo
I'm reading this thread for the first time. If you have more than 50 orchids you really should not fool around with half measures. It is possible to kill off mealy bug infestations completely, but you must resort to chemical warfare.
First - about Enstar II, according to the original Sandoz labelling it was not designed to be used alone. It is not efective that way. It was designed to be used as part of a tank mix (cocktail) when applied to the plant. The other component originally recomended was Mavrik, another Sandoz product that is a relatively inexpensive 2nd generation synthetic pyrethroid. The combination at manufacturer's recomended dose works wonders. When I find a mealie infestation I spray my collection with this mix twice, about 10 to 14 days apart. And that is it. I have had 100% kill of all pests with this mixture. Generally I do this in the Fall, after a frost so that I get few or no new recruits from outside. My collection will stay clean until mid summer following. Which means there are no significant populations of mealies hiding and survivng. The new recruits come in from outside or come in on new acquisitions.
Tank mix cocktails that have worked for me include:
Mavrik + Enstar II
Mavrik + Enstar II + Pentac WP + 2 drops wetter sticker
Decathalon WP + Enstar II + Pentac WP + 2 drops wetter sticker
Decathalon WP + Enstar II + wetter sticker
Merit + Enstar II
Merit + Enstar II + Pentac WP
The patttern is use a cocktail, use WP or AD formulations when possible. (fewer problems with effects from the solvents) I add Pentac WP when I see evidence of spider mites or false spider mites. The 3 part cocktail kills 'em all and lets God sort 'em out.
These chemicals are not cheap to buy, but are very effective in these types of combinations and become cheap to use because they work, which means you use them less often.
You must wear protective gear, and must get out of the growing area until the foliage is dry once you have used these things. Take a shower afterward, change clothes. don't go back into the greenhouse or growing area until the next day.
My collection is too valuable to fool around with half measures. So I do what the commercial guys do. When I use this mix on 'house plants' or orchids that are grown in the home, I move all the plants to an outdoor patio (weather permitting) or a garage. Then spray there. Clean the house area where the plants were before putting the plants back. Bring the plants back in once they are dry. Key is spray everybody, don't skip any plants because they look 'clean', sure enough this is where a pregnant mealie will be hiding.
There are other chemicals that work, but key is, 2 applications, close enough together that juvinal mealies from eggs hatching after the intitial spray don't have a chance to mature and start egg laying before the second spray. The second key is use a cocktail that include a growth hormone regulator. This is what really breaks the pernicious infestations. Use it in the cocktail.
Cheers
Leo
oke:
