Can any one tell me what is safe to use on bromeliads to control insects and fungus? I don't think I have any right now but it looks like one of mine may have had scale. I just didn't know if there was anything special I needed to know before I spray.
Thanks!!
Insects and fungus....
Let's hope it isn't scale because while it doesn't spread very fast it's really hard to eradicate.
Fungus first - I've never seen any and it would surprise me since most Bromeliads thrive in very humid conditions (although not soggy in the potting mix). I guess I have seen moss in the pots but it doesn't appear to be detrimental. Just make sure your potting mix drains well.
Insects - I have been using Merit (Imidcloprid) monthly to control just about everything. It will not, however, eradicate the scale. I'm hoping at least that it's keeping any new plants from being affected. Scale can also be slowed by assuring very good air movement. When I find scale in the greenhouse, it's almost always in an area where the air isn't moving, like under the benchs. The difficulty with scale it that they are armored and fairly impervious to external insecticides. You can easily remove them physically with a fingernail but hose them down really well afterwards because there are tiny eggs under the adults and often crawlers (the hatchlings) still lurking. They also reproduce fairly quickly but not like other pests like spider mites (which I have never seen on Bromeliads probably since they like it dry). When I do find scale I segregate the plant, treat it, and put a yellow label in the pot to remind me to be on the watch for survivors.
Sometimes one will see mealybugs on a spike but it's easy to just remove them by squashing with the fingers or hosing them off. In nature, most of the epiphytic Bromeliads are teeming with all kinds of insects in the water trapped between the leaves and the end result is beneficial rather than destructive, the animal life contributing nutrients.
One caveat: don't use Neem oil on Bromeliads since it will clog up the trichomes in the leaves which are the way these epiphytic plants gather nutrients and water. Too bad, since Neem oil is very effective at controlling a great number of pests. I do use it but only after I temporarly move the plants (non-Bromeliads) outside.
Dave.