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Mealy bugs, roots

Discussion in 'Issues, Disease and Pests' started by Dave, Aug 30, 2013.

  1. Aug 30, 2013 #1
    Dave

    Dave Active Member Supporting Member

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    I've noticed a couple of transparent plastic pots in which I can see what look like mealy bugs on roots. What is preferred method to get rid of these. TIA.
     
  2. Aug 30, 2013 #2
    ZWUM

    ZWUM Bulbophiliac Staff Member

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    I find imidicloprid works well and it's easy to get. Bayer 3 in 1 is what I use and, I believe it has a fungicide in it too. You don't even have to mix it since it comes in a spray bottle which you just attach to the hose. It takes a couple applications and I usually spray it on a 7-10 day interval. It works on a myriad of species even sensitive bulbos with no ill effects. Hope that helps!
     
  3. Aug 30, 2013 #3
    KellyW

    KellyW Orchid wonk Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Dave, I sometimes get a fluffy white fungus in the potting medium as well as in the moss on mounts. I don't know if it is a problem for the plants. I guess my suggestion is to determine if it is mealy bugs. If it is then what Zach said would work well. I use the Bayer Rose and Flower Insect Killer which is also imidicloprid. Good luck.
     
  4. Aug 30, 2013 #4
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    You might want to take it out and see what it is. If it is mealybug you will want to repot it after treating it. Mealybug can live on the bark for quite sometime and repotting would improve your chances of eradicating it.
     
    Andreja Schulz likes this.
  5. Sep 3, 2013 #5
    keithrs

    keithrs Member

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    I find that a heavy stream of water plus neem oil works well. Make sure you treat all your plant several times! Do you have ant running around?
     
  6. Sep 16, 2013 #6
    lepetitmartien

    lepetitmartien Active Member

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    Bath the pot a little to make the plant drink, then use a 1 teaspoon alcohol mix per water liter. It'll kill them. Now watch out, these are the ones you see? It may well hide overs…
     
  7. Mar 22, 2014 #7
    fernbrook

    fernbrook Member

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    What is your suggestions for ants? I do have large ants, I am going to treat the ground of my green house but what treatment for my orchids?
     
  8. Mar 24, 2014 #8
    lepetitmartien

    lepetitmartien Active Member

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    Be careful, not all ants are "sheperds", others are strictly carnivorous, others eat fungus they cultivate or they find in dead wood for example. So your big ants may not be a threat…
     
  9. Mar 26, 2014 #9
    Kermie

    Kermie Tadpole Supporting Member

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    Pesky as they are...they are kinda cute :)
    They are easy enough to get rid of if you follow a treatment regime. Their life cycle is somewhere between 2-4 weeks, so make sure you are treating no less than that. I would recommend once weekly for the first 2-3 weeks.
     
  10. Mar 26, 2014 #10
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    What country are you in?
     
  11. Mar 30, 2014 #11
    fernbrook

    fernbrook Member

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    Australia, Queensland which is semi-tropical.
     
  12. Mar 30, 2014 #12
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I was going to suggest an over-the-counter product we have in the US (Terro ant spray and powder) but it might not be available there. This is a good reason to put your country of residence in the "location" info. It makes it easier to answer questions.
     
  13. Apr 1, 2014 #13
    lepetitmartien

    lepetitmartien Active Member

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    Especially as we may don't know the insects you're talking about…
     
  14. Apr 1, 2014 #14
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    I was talking about ants.
     
  15. Apr 1, 2014 #15
    lepetitmartien

    lepetitmartien Active Member

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    Me too.
    There's an estimated 22000 ant species. If we can't tell which they are, we may be totally out of the point in killing mode.

    If we don't know we can't kill.
     
  16. Apr 2, 2014 #16
    Marni

    Marni Well-Known Member Staff Member Supporting Member

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    Good point. The only ants I have to deal with are none native, Argentine ants and I know what they do in the greenhouse.