FEATURESTORY
by Ray Barkalow
Pesticide Use Guidelines for Orchids
D
espite all of our efforts to keep
our collections clean, tidy and
pest-free, there simply will come
a time when we’re forced to pull
out the “big guns” in our arsenal of commer-
cial pesticides. Your stewardship of their use
is an important aspect of orchid culture.
MULTIPURPOSE GREENHOUSE
DISINFECTANT & DISEASE CONTROL
• Disinfect pots, trays, benches, tools, etc.
• Algae control on walkways, pots, evaporative coolers, soil
• Spray on plants to control bacterial, viral and fungal disease
• Excellent wetting agent
• Cost effective, pleasant odor and environmentally friendly
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15421 Red Hill Ave. • Suite D • Tustin, CA 92780 USA
714-544-7711 • 800-546-7711 • www.physan.com
34
While I am not intending to list specific prod-
ucts, I would like to share some general pesticide use
guidelines.
◆ ◆ READ THE LABEL, and read it completely, includ-
ing not only the application instructions, but be
especially careful to read – and heed – the safety
warnings and recommended protective gear.
◆ ◆ Preventive treatment with pesticides is a mistake.
As there is no way to totally kill all critters with
a single treatment, that’s how resistant strains are
developed. Use pesticides as a curative measure
only. Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) are less of
an issue in this regard, as they kill all maturity
stages of insects and prevent them from reproduc-
ing, which precludes the possibility of passing on
the resistant genes.
◆ ◆ Rotate your pesticides. Different classes of chemi-
cals have different modes of action on the pests.
At one end of the spectrum are those that suffo-
cate the insect (oils) or simply remove protective
coatings (soaps) and make them vulnerable to
the environment around them. While at the other
end are those that disrupt biological processes in
one or more of several different ways. Varying
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
April 2018