Today while I was getting up close and personal with my hoyas I noticed that one of my little dragonfly clips had white cotton under it. I took it off only to discover (mealies?) little flesh colored bugs with lots of cotton around them. I removed each and every dragonfly clip I had in all 3 pots of hoyas that I grow and under each dragonfly I discovered these bugs. Quickly I got the rubbing alcohol and Q-Tips and cleaned each and every one. Then, I did an overall spray with straight alcohol to be sure I didn't miss any.
I guess these little bugs find the underneath of the dragonfly clips a safe and hidden place to lay eggs and live.
So if you use these clips please check under them periodically.
Kim
Use Dragonfly Clips? If So, PLEASE Read
You can spray the hoyas with STRAIGHT alcohol? Doesn't hurt the plant?
d
I don't know if it hurts the plant or not but I hope not because I did it *lol*
I water with the "beer" recipe so maybe they won't even notice *lol*
Kim
I've done it, too, and haven't seen any adverse effects.
I suppose, though, that there are some Hoyas that would be more sensitive to it than others.
Kim, yes they do like to hide under those clips. I received a couple plants a year or so ago, and there were alot of them tucked under the clips, ever since I make it a practice to check underneath the clips when I am "playing plants". It is also a good thing to just take the clip off and dip it into the alcohol for a minute, or heck now that I am rolling in the clips, maybe I will just change them out. Thanks for the heads up!!
Mealy bugs seem to love me and my plants so I also periodically check for them under clips and ties and such. I use a systemic as well as alcohol. The alcohol full strength to get the bugs I can see and the systemic to go in through the roots and get any that i may have missed!
dmichael
Kim,
Could you post the "beer" recipe. I saw it mentioned somewhere else and have been looking for it all morning!
Sharon
It's not just the butterfly clips they get under. I use the tape that sticks to itself alot now too, and if your not up on "bug defense"...they will be hiding in under there too. Sounds like it may be getting time for another drench of Bayer T & S.
Yes, you can spray with straight 3 percent alcohol. I have been doing it for 3 years & have yet to see one have bad effects. Just make sure you don't hang the plant in sunshine until it is dry.
Sharon, the beer recipe is in the "fertilizer" thread, about half way down. Here it is though, in case you don't find it. I'm not Kim, but here is the recipe.
Beer/epsom salt/ amonia
12 oz beer (lager/ale, just not lite)
1/2 cup plain amonia
1 cup epsom salts
2 cups water
Becky from epi forum added:
4 tablespoons bloom booster
1/2 cup molasses
1cup vit. B plant starter
edited to add the dilution: 1 Tablespoon per gallon (thanks Kim...that is TOTALLY important)
I use the original recipe, and the molasses, as that is what I have on hand, and have been using for about 6 months. Great stuff, no ill effects, better color and lots of growth.
Good luck.
Sara
This message was edited Nov 8, 2006 1:04 PM
Sara,
Thank you so much!
Sharon
Wow Sara you're faster than me *lol*
Sharon, be sure to use 1 tablespoon only per gallon of water OK?
Kim
Ok, Kim. I didn't see that for a while and thought it sounded kind of strong! LOL
Sharon
You use Bayer T&S on everything too? I just discover this stuff here on DG this year. Bought it but havn't used it yet.
The Bayer stuff is good, I've heard. I bought some recently for a Schlumbergera that had a couple of root mealies. I doused it again about 2 weeks later. When it's finished budding and blooming, I'll take it out of it's pot to see if there are still any there. I may just give them another shot next time it needs water. Just for good measure. Never had a plant that had root mealies before, so I went looking for information on how to treat those. The Bayer T/S kept popping up as the best thing since sliced bread. I'll let you guys know in a few weeks how the plant is doing.
It's a good idea to check your plants regularly for signs of insects. You can head off infestations this way. I think I'm kind of anal when it comes to checking plants for bugs. Almost paranoid. But, can you blame me? LOL
GH
GS,
I have some of the Bayer T/S but wasn't sure what strength to use in pots, and some people had trouble with roots getting burned. How much are you using? And it is the tree and shrub formula and not the rose one, right?
Sharon
I have used both, but prefer the rose formula because it has a fungicide also.
sara
Sharon, yes it is the T and S. I used 1 TBSP per Gallon of water. (I'll see if I can find the thread, either from here or gardenweb, as a testimonial). Here's a pic of the bottle.
Does the Rose one have the same basic ingredient: Imidacloprid? The fungicide attracts me to Bayer's Rose. May have to try that when this bottle runs out(in a couple of years!)
Edited to say: It ain't cheap!!!!
This message was edited Nov 8, 2006 6:40 PM
You mix the Tree & Shrub at one ounce to a gallon of water. Shake it first of course and I like to get the water in the jug first as this stuff foams up bigtime and if you have it in first you keep having to wait for the foam to go down. I use it about twice a year on everything that is not edible or being fed to my tortoises. Wait until the plant needs water, then drench (make sure it soaks it up & not just runs off &out the bottom). I try to get all the plants I am bringing in for winter as the dry air in the house makes a bug paradise if you haven't got them protected. I used to tie a ribbon on the ones I had done, so I didn't get them twice, but I have found it simpler to just stick a piece of masking tape on the pots I have done.... (they don't all need watering at one time, so I had to devise a method of knowing which ones I had done).
Marcy
Marcy, that's a fabulous method to help us remember when we gave the last bug blast! I think I learn something weekly from the members at DG. Thanks for sharing that tip!
GH
Thanks for the info!! I've had this stuff all summer, and was just afraid to use it. I really want to get all the plant in the greenhouse dosed so the bug problems aren't so bad this year. Tape on the pots - great idea for keeping track.
BATS really helped my fungus gnat problem, I watered once and have only seen 1 lonely gnat fly around since!
I have found that too, Kim... Also check the rachis on the peduncles: BTS ;does not go out there...nor into the flowers so the mealies congregate there, too!!! Little buggers!!!
Carol
Aha - good to know! I hate the mealies, they are next on my list of arch enemies! I don't have them on Hoyas as far as I know, however I have been fighting them on my C&S so I assume it's only time ~
Thank you for letting us know, Kim. I hate those little beasties!
Thanks Sara for posting the beer recipe. I kept hearing about but didn't know where to get the recipe. Does everyone use it only for hoyas or for other plants to?
:) Donna
Hiya Donna :)
I use the beer recipe on all my plants (have been for about 6 or 7 weeks or so?) and I have to say, I have never seen my plants looking so healthy. I mist with it too but I don't think alot of people mist with it. I don't know if I'm supposed to mist with it or not but I do.....(any advice here?)
Kim
Thanks, Kim. Now I have to see if my DH will give up one of his beers...lol.
:) Donna
Hey Kim, and Donna,
Glad you like the recipe....I too mist with it, and I root all of my cuttings in it too. My cuttings from David Liddle looked pretty tough when they arrived, due to quite a few hold-ups, and all but one rooted quite quickly in the beer formula. I just mix it a little stronger than the rules, more like 11/2 Tablespoons to the gallon, and pour it into the misting bottle, and in the vase that I use for rooting. I also put it in my humidifier......don't know if that makes a difference, but I figure it probably still helps. ; )
Donna, if your DH is anything like mine, he might yelp a little about his beer, but since I do the grocery shopping, and keep him well stocked, he didn't complain toooooo much. Plus, one batch of this stuff goes quite a long way I have found.
Like Kim, I use it on EVERYTHING. I love it too. My orchids, african violets, hoyas and carniverous plants are thriving, and there is tons of new growth on my epis.
Sara
Thanks, Sara. I still might have a problem. DH does all the grocery shopping and buys all his beer....lol.
:) Donna
LOL Donna, you might have to "sneak" one........reminds me a little bit of high school :O !
S