The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Hello everyone, Edward here........I was wondering which is the best insecticide for CPs to counterattack scale, mealybug, aphids, etc.etc. After Aaron told me of his stevensii under scale attack, I was really scared of my CPs getting infected:crying::crying:. So far none of my plants have been infected, but I have to take precaution. Does anyone know what is the best insecticide to fight of the irritating pest that might someday attack my CPs????? And where to get them in Malaysia....lol.:2thumbup:

Cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

For me if the pest infection is not that great I use waterbase mosquito/cocroach arrosol, ie. waterbase Mortein, Ridsect, etc. Seem to work and do not affect my CPs, particularly Neps at all.

Try to get systematic insecticide in powder form. Used it once before and it worked.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Well, I went to some nurseries and all they sell is insecticide for ants adn grasshoppers. Annoying really when I ask the people for insecticide for aphids and they stare at me blankly.

cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Try asking in garden centers like Ace Harware shop etc. At least the staff there speaks english or Bahasa Malaysia.

Just try waterbase arosol first. It is safe for your plants and family too. I just use this as I am living in an apartment. Don't want poisonous substance to be on the leaves of my plants in the house.

Alternatively you can try some natural remedy in this article but be careful with some of the substance as CPs might not take too well to them if the entire plant is subject to it.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

I just spray the plant infected area with very toxic pesticide and then wash it instantly. Got rid of the stupid scales but the sarra left 4 leaves. Plenty of roots though.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Well, currently, I am using the hand method. As in I lightly rub the surfaces of the leaves carefully to get rid of dirt and perhaps some pests. How about fungus? Any fungicide will do, right?

As for the ladybug, I don't wanna talk about it. I caught one behind my condo last month and put it on my s.purpurea to test for aphids. Not more than five minutes later I saw it struggling in one of the pitcher. Saved it and put it on the soil of my sarra pot but 10 minutes later it was in another pitcher. Didn't bother saving it.:tongue:

So practically speaking, a light spray of sheildtox on any CPs will help kill the pest?

Cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

I submerge my whole purpurea for a few minutes. It got infected too but still early stage. No insecticide used. Only washing, Drowning and scraping the plant.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Your poor purpurea.......why must it suffer like this? Why so serious, Aaron?

Cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Never mind lah. Only few minutes mah. I thought they sometimes grow in waterlogged soil. Scrapping the bugs only not hurt the plant. I wash the roots and pitchers underwater. No harm.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Or if you like to make it hard for yourself do what I just did yesterday.

Got a plastic up and some cotton buds (cotton swabs) put a bit of water and drop of dishwashing soap and put a drop of Malathaion or as David suggested you can use water based insecticide (ones for mosquitos and ****roaches) if you are using a spray, then spray some into the plastic cup and then put a bit of water and soap or just use the pure liquid from the spray.

Soak the cotton buds in the liquid and dab the scale insects with it, one by one.

That is what I did, I hate the smell of Malathaion, really bad, but I hope it works. If not I will really try what Dave tried with hose hold water based insecticide. :)

This is the same plant that I tried with just soap and dishwashing liquid, after a few months scale insects are back. I understand that ants are the ones that actually put them there in the first place, but I feel that the ants are food for the pitchers. My sarracenia Leucophyllia is the one that is infected.

TTFN
Arvin

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Actually waht Aaron said also works. For me I submerge the entire plant in a pail of water for 24 hours, sometimes 48 hours. I've tried with Sarracenia purpurea and a few Nepenthes. The plants will be fine and will not die.

What you can do is to uproot the plant. Clean off all the media from the roots. This is to make sure any pest or its eggs hidden in the media is removed. Then soak the entire plant in water for 1-2 days. After that repot the plant in new clean media. Hopefully the pets would drown in the water.

I've never tried this before but maybe someone can try mixing a little soap in the pail of water.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

As for fungicide, I use the powder form. The ones that you need to mix with water and spray on the plant. I read somewhere before that the liquid form is petroleum base and that might harm CPs. So I bought the powder form which works fine.

But the thing about fungicide is, it is just like most medicine where it treats only the symtoms, but not the root of the problem. If your plants always get fungus attact, using fungicide will only get rid of the fungus temporary. You need to allow more air flow into your growing area or the problem will reoccur.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Ken, Aaron, Edward and other young forumers,

At your age, you should avoid poison as much as possible. Malathion is a growth inhibitor, so please avoid all together. There is been research to cause growth defects. All systemic poison should be avoided by you guys. It seeps into your skin (especially your under your fingernails) and can stay there for days.

Summary: guys stay away from systemic poison as much as possible. Anything Kelas I, Kelas II stay away.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Ok, thanks for your advice everyone! Now I am ready for the pests, should they come. I am just afraid of killing my plants when I soak them in water. If soap works on these pests, then it would be ok, though from the savage garden book, it said that never use soap based insecticide. I shall try the sheildtox technic.

Cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Thanks Ban Aik for the advise on safety. I think it is important to note.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Ok, now I shall be carefull of what insecticide to use. Perhaps I will try to start a research on this type of insecticide and other harmful systematic insecticide.

Cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Thanks for the advice, Ban aik.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Neem Oil Emulsion

I only use organic based bio insecticide/fungicide/nematicide for all my plants. Works very very well for me. Since this is organic based, I don't have to worry about my kids touching and smelling the plants. To apply it is pretty easy as well, mix one full cap of the neem oil to one liter of water and use bottle sprayer to apply it.

I also use organic fertiliser from this company and very2 happy with the results (for orchids lah, not neps). Don't worry, I don't have any shares in this company. Just giving out recommendation as a very satisfied customer.

http://bgreenfertilizer.googlepages.com/produkutama

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Thanks for the advice Harris! I can visit their area since its near to me! Thanks a lot!

Cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

No problem mate,
Sharing is caring...

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Bactrus, I feel bad for those that are not young of age, coz you only warned the younger forumers, so you mean okay for older guys to use these stuff? :) hahaha! As I reported I used Malathaion and yes you are right, even if I tried hard to not get them on my skin, my finger still stink of Malathaion after washing 5 times and it stayed until evening. :(

Worse I checked the scale insects last night, and they are still there, not sure if they are all dead, but some are still green, so maybe still alive.

The Ventricosa that was infected with root aphids though is doing really well, the only thing I did was soak the roots in water.... but they were soaking for 3 days.

TTFN
Arvin

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Arvin,

I was still using malathion, monocrotophos and carbofuron till baby came around in May. Now I am very selective at when I use them. I am not condoning the use of these poisons but urge young fellows to be careful at their tender growing years. Nor am I advocating adults using poisons. However, I noticed that the effects on me is less as I grow older. All I want is forumers, especially younger ones, to remain safe.

Like what your said, the poison "stayed" on your fingers foru hours. If you're a nail bitter, then you definately consume some of the poison.

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

Ok, Ban Aik, advice taken. Anyways, me mum and dad would kill me if I ever use something smelly and poisonous........but I do not wish to contribute to the world polution.

Cheers

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

hahahah! Yes I know what you mean Bactrus, lucky I am not a nail biter but my eldest daughter (4yrs old) is a finger in the mouth kid. I of course asked her not to go near me and the plants when I applied Malathaion. I also tried my best to use the smallest dose possible, and it was not sprayed on but brushed on with cotton buds. Unfortunately latest check on the plants indicated that it might not have worked. I still see the scale insects.

Manual scraping and some other remedies might be better.

TTFN
Arvin

Re: The perfect insecticide for the annoying bugs.....
 

I'm also using neem oil emulsion like Harris, with good results minus the harmful effect to human... I mix neem oil with dishwashing detergent then shake the mixture(to emulsify the neem oil) and then mix with water and spray.
This mixture actually works more like insect deterance than as an insecticide, it can kill small insect like ants and etc. Try google it and you find a lot of useful info on this.