I suggest that you use Bayer Tree and Shrub. It is not a spray, but a drench that you use once a year. It is a systemic (Imidacloprid) that is absorbed by the roots. I have had good success with it.

I agree with the Bayer. However, I do alternate with Bayer's 3 in 1 Insect, Disease and Mite Control because the Bayer Tree and Shrub won't control mites or diseases

I keep a spray bottle of alcohol w/Dawn dish detergent-soap handy and it takes care of lots of pests-bugs...sally

I don't like using toxic chemicals especially on flowering bushes. Think of the good insects plus bees and birds who visit the flowers. I have found that a healthy plant develops natural resistance which helps keep bad bugs in check. Plus, spraying toxic chemicals kills the natural predators which keep control of the nasty bugs.

I noticed my hybiscus covered in aphids. The flower buds were being destroyed. I gave it a hard spray from the hose knocking off the aphids. A few days later I noticed Lady-bugs walking around the stems. They love aphids!

I use a homemade spray as Saldut does. I add some oil to the alcohol/Dawn and spray. I have used this mix for years on my orchids which are prone to brown scale. Works very well as long as you remember to do it a few weeks apart. Soap and water sprays are good. The secret to dealing with scale is setting up a strict schedule in the beginning. The oil will kill the adults but the eggs will continue to hatch and spraying once every 2 weeks works well. Alcohol works well on aphids and some mites.

If using alcohol and oil, do not spray during the heat of the day. Wait until the sun begins to set and spray well.

Sorry about the loss of your mother. Give the sprays a try and see if you can get your Gardenias bug-free.

Jane

i've gone the 'natural' route before,and lost so many plants to pests it is unreal. I am a chemical person. I try to spray when bees and birds are not on the plants,especially my gardenia. I spray at dusk,so by dawn they are dry. when it comes to these thrips on the blooms, I really tried the soap and water idea,and they just loved getting a bath. It did nothing. But neither did any chemical. I still dont know what to do for these thrips that will come when I get my first full bloom. Right now I have a lot of buds on both plants, weeks away from opening. There must be something t oprevent them,or kill them before the blooms open.

I heard of this Bayers soil drench,and was thinking of using it. It is expensive, but if it works, and you only have to do it once or twice a year, it would be great. Its not like we eat the blooms.

Can freshly planted plant take the soil drench? Or do they have to be established? Thanks all.

I have a handful of blooming gardenias and I use the Bayer but not the spray, I use the systemic granules. It's a fertilizer and systemic insecticide. I put it down a few times a year and the plants absorb it. It only kills the pests that feed on the plant, that way only the pests that feed on the plant get any of it. I only use it on plants that really get hit bad enough to be killed, like the gardenias, datura's and now, hollyhocks.
Lori

Has it worked for scale on your gardenias 'Crueltyfre'? I figure that just about everyone that grows gardenias has some-kind of scale problem. this Bayer soil drench or granules sounds like the way to go. But is it ok to use on newly planted plants? Does anyone know, or would it be in the Bayer label?
I assume that you all know of course that mine are the grafted gardenias. Down here in Ft.Lauderdale the soil nematodes kill all gardenias that are not on grafted stock.

Is that the same all over Fla.? Or just south Fla.?

I was hoping that yours were grafted, aveo5.

I agree with the idea of a systemic on Gardenias. The flowers attract very few bees or other insects. The systemic will kill bugs that chew on the leaves and stems. I use a spray called Ortho Systemic. It works on camellias as well. The problem with scale and some other insects is that they are frequently on the back of the leaves and stems and it is difficult to reach them with other sprays. The systemic works because it is in (absorbed) all parts of the plant.

Regarding thrips, the best that I have found is a chemical called spinosad.It is the chemical used to treat chili thrips that ravaged hybrid roses in Florida. The product Conserve has it, but it is expensive. There was another product that Walmart carried with this chemical, but I don't remember the name.