I thought that perhaps this might be an appropriate thread to start. We are all plagued by critters.
Personally I have not used a harsh chemical in almost 40 years! Yet, bugs are controlled pretty well in my collection. How you might be asking?
Almost 2 years ago, I started a monthly preventative program here in Florida. I got the idea from a speaker. The first weekend I use Neem Oil in a gallon and a half pump sprayer. I fill it with water, add a tsp. and a half of neem oil and a few drops of mild dish detergent. I spray everything in my collection. Up and down, over and under.
Results: I use to lose spikes to thrips quite often, now very rarely. No mealybugs or aphids at all. Spider
Mites are a thing of the past.
What got me upset one morning when I went outside, it looked as if some crazy clown had sprayed white cotton candy on my Catasetum leaves. It was webbing from false spider mites! It was horrible! That's when I started this monthly program. No more false spider mites, no mealys, no white scale. The bugs are in the run.
Neem is safe to use. It is a good control on bacterial and fungal problems as well!
Please feel free to use this post to inform the group of your own successes and failures as well as questions. Let's see where it takes us.
With young kids years ago and kittens, I could never think about dangerous chemicals. There just had to be a better way.
