I have been wondering about this for a while, and would love to hear your opinions.
I have been slowly collecting hoyas for the last 5 years, and probably half of the plants or cuttings that I have received have come with some kind of pest (mealy, scale, aphid). Never a huge infestation - usually just a couple that are easily removed with a q-tip and alcohol. The most recent being a trade with a friend here in my town. I pointed the mealies out to her, and she became VERY offended, and insisted that they weren't bugs. ( I think she was embarrassed - not my intention) I mentioned that it wasn't a big deal, only that she might want to treat her plant at home. I treated the cuttings, and they are quite fine.
I have always felt that while unpleasant, critters tend to be part of the territory, and have never complained, or even let the people I receive from know that there was a bug. I also use a SUPER systemic, that I mix in the soil of all of the plants I receive, and cuttings when I pot them, so I almost never have outbreaks. It is Disulfoton, and kills everything - even mites and thripes.
So....here is my question:
Would you want to know if you inadvertently sent someone cuttings/plants with stowaways? I am wondering if in my desire to spare some one's feelings, I may be doing them a dis-service by not alerting them to a potential problem that they may very well not be aware of. Please tell me what you think.
Thanks,
Sara
Please tell me what you think......
I would want to know, so I could take the needed steps to fix the problem.....
Absolutely, I would want to know if I have pests and maybe even a friendly tip on how best to remove them. There's no doubt I currently have, have had in the past, or will have in the future some pests on my plants. If I knew they were there I would find out how to eliminate them and do so. There lies the problem, maybe I don't know they are present, but I would sure like to.
Thank you threegardeners, and MulletMan - I was thinking the same thing. I am getting so many hoyas now, that I am able to check them over when I water, but certainly not under every leaf, in every crevice, or along every stem. That is why I really love this systemic. I even use it on plants that seem pristine.
I did share the systemic granules that I use with my friend, and she appreciated it, but I really, really, had to stress the fact that pests are just part of the picture, and there aren't nor should be any hard feelings. No criticism, just kindness.
Sara
Since people may not know there are a few stowaways on board, I think you would be doing them a favor by telling them. You say your friend was embarrassed - that makes sense. On the flip side, I bought an orchid that wound up with mealy bugs on it, it was no big deal, I got rid of them but when I went back to see the grower and mentioned it to her, she became very offended and claimed that it must have come from my own plants. I really don't think any grower or even one of us can be 100% sure that there are absolutely no bugs on their plants ever.
But, I think it is HOW you tell someone that is important, whether it is about bugs or anything else - it is important not to attack or make someone feel defensive. I was very unconfrontational with the orchid lady and she jumped down my throat so fast, I was shocked. Needless to say, I never bought one of her $40 orchids again - and not because of the bugs but because of her attitude about it.
I know this is off topic, but aren't you afraid of using those systemic chemicals on indoor plants? I always have my hands all over my plants and in the soil, and even if I didn't, I would still be concerned about what is coming off of the soil into the air. Not attacking you here, just concerned, those are some pretty hard core chemicals.
I would want to know also. Pest are part of gardening, and it NOT a reflection on her gardening skills. It is something we all have to deal with. You were being a good friend. ;O)
Patti
Bhavana,
Like you, I was very gentle with my friend....she said she keeps her house too clean for mealies!! I laughed, maybe I shouldn't have.
I don't worry about the chemicals in the soil. I mix them in really well, and don't put my hands in the soil.....if I do, it is very rare. I can tell by looking at my soil if the plant needs water, and if I am unsure, I have a very inexpensive moisture meter that I use, and water when the gauge is at the low end of "moist" (the green middle section).
joking, but seriously - neither my kids or I eat the hoyas, and my animals leave them alone as well, so really I am not concerned about the granules. You are right, they are strong - and they work -even on mites. I do think that mealies come in from the outside though, as I have found mealies on my daughter's stephanotis seedlings (untreated), but not on any other plants in the vicinity, and nothing new had been brought in. That plant is on a window sill also, perhaps they came through the crevices?
Patti, we were posting at the same time. Thank you for the positive support. I am great at eating crow, when trying to be "helpful" , so thought I would check in with other gardeners. HA!
Sara
This message was edited May 25, 2007 7:39 PM
I also have made that same mistake, Sara. Personaly, I would want to know but I also feel like bugs are part of the bargain. Just deal with it. I also used to be totaly against chemicals. Not so much these days :~) Bought my first jug of BATS this year and feel pretty darn good about it :~) God bless, -joanne
Edited to say, "just deal with it" was meant for me, not you :~) -j
This message was edited May 25, 2007 7:22 PM
I would most definitely want to know! I agree, it's not a reflection of gardening skills, just part of the territory of keeping plants.
Karen
Thanks Karen, and Joanne - feeling tons better. I have always "just dealt" with the bugs. They are irritating, but usually new plants are sooooo exciting, that the bugs hardly phase me. I don't worry about infestation at all, because of systemics. My very first hoya was just inundated with mealies, and I battled for 2 years, and finally with systemics, wiped them out in just 2 months. No returns, no spreading. I will not go any other way now. I really like the Bonide granules, as they contain a miticide.
S
I definitely would want to know...and I would want to know which bugs!!! I spend a lot of time drenching with BATS - which, by the way, does NOT extend to the rachis nor the flowers of a plant where mealies can live happily...and inspecting and spraying. I WANT to know in case some system is wearing out, not working, getting an immunity towards it...whatever!!! Bugs are a fact of life...they have NOTHING to do with cleanliness. Cheech!!!!
Count me as another that would want to know so I could take the necessary steps on my end. I have always been paranoid about introducing a pest to my plant collection. I would go years without buying a new plant because of fear of bringing home something. I was the same when I was heavy into aquariums (I had 30 at one time holding a total of about 1,200 gallons of water); I would never purchase a new fish for fear of introducing a parasite. I would simply breed and raise the fish that I had in my collection and propagate the plants the same way. The problem with this practice however is that you never get to try new things, and you eventually get bored.
Now that I'm moving into this Hoya obsession, and acquiring plants from all over the place, I'm going to try to be better about it. With the knowledge that I have gotten here about fighting pests, I feel that I can probably deal with a few stowaways. Also, I have ordered a small greenhouse, which I will heat from April 15th to October 15th. I know that with a greenhouse comes pests; you can't keep all of them out. So I am arming myself with the tools I need to fight them. I will also rely upon the good people of this forum for their years of experience to help me when I need it.