Hi,

Mealy bugs are highly contagious, pls. move the infected plants well away from the rest of the plants.

I don't know what this systemic will do to Ficus & Snake plants. I'd be afraid it'd kill them, I'd try the alcohol cure first.

I strongly advise against using systemics in any manner OTHER than how it's specifically directed. Pls. keep in mind in some respect these are poisons, I assume this is being done indoors. Do you have kids or pets in the area? These are all important considerations.

No kids or pets, most of my hoyas are at my work office. The cats at home kept knocking them out of windows. I haven't seen any signs that the snake plant or the ficus have them, but they are in my cube and therefore share a cube with the Hoyas. With most of the Hoyas, I haven't seen any signs of infestation either, but treated them to avoid spread. How are most people administering the Bayer?

Thanks,
Girl in Kzoo

Use the BATS once a year or as I add plants to my collection. The 'secret' I find is to put the plants (I found plastic storage containers that are big enough to fit the whole tray of pots) and water the stuff in, letting it run thru the pots and build up a little pool the pots sit in for about 10 mins. Then I water it in again and let the pots drain over the container. I do recycle the the water, adding a tiny bit more of the BATS, maybe a teas. per gal. I might have 2 or 3 'systems' going at the same time...while i do something else and not watch the clock!!! I mix 1oz. BATS (2 Tablespoons) per gallon in the original mix. That should do your hoyas for a year...in a closed environment...meaning no new plants that are not yet treated. I've got well over 300 plants and it sure eases my mind.
Joni

I used to use systemic insecticides when I had a few hundred orchid to deal with. I have since completely changed my tune and would never consider using these products today. If you go back 20 years you will see that none of those insecticides are available today, go back another 20 years and it will be the same. The insecticides we use today will be pulled from the market sooner or later because of health or environmental concerns and another group of people will pay the price for exposure to those chemicals in the form of cancers, chemical sensitivities or other health problems. Anyone remember DDT? The list goes on and on and will continue to be added to as we find each new generation of insecticide is well in fact a poison to us and the environment.

Right now Bayer is being sued by bee keepers across Europe because their product is apparently responsible for confusing bees so that they can not find their way back to their hives etc. which is causing devastating effects to bee populations. I don't know about you but the thought of consuming honey that was collected from plants that may or may not have been treated with a systemic insecticide is well not a pleasant thought.

I would encourage everyone who has a insect problem with their plants to consider more benign approaches like insecticidal soap or alcohol instead of first reaching for a systemic insecticide.

Please read the article and give it some thought. These huge chemicals companies are there to make money not to worry what sort of health problems they cause you, your family or our planet. Consider that fact that Bayer sells you both poison in the form of insecticide as well as Asprin. The name of their game is profit no matter what sort of branding or image they project.

Sorry for the rant but we as gardeners need to realize that we are involved in killing nature when we use these products.

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Bees and Bayer

Mike,

I know you're right about systemics/insecticides. I'm sure we are continually consuming these chemicals in everything we eat. I don't really trust so-called "organic" food any more than I do regular food. These foods are being grown in the same chemical-laden soil as other foods, perhaps the only consolation is that no additional chemicals are being added...

But growing plants inside is a little different because you don't have natural preditors to take care of them, or wind or rain to blow/wash the plants on a regular basis. I use BATS in great moderation - I find that regular inspection (at every watering), along with a vigorous spraydown (also at every watering) go a long ways to keeping bugs away. And alcohol is usually my first defense to mealies...

Denise in Omaha

Joni,
Thanks so much for the tips! It seems I may have stumbled on a bit of a hot topic. I totally recognize the need to be responsible with the use of chemicals. I graduated with an environmental specialization and am a Landscape Architect. I've read Silent Spring and realize that in the past the cavalier use of chemical products have lead to huge environmental repercussions. I'm happy to gain additional information pro and con on the use of systemics, but have made the decision to use them responsibly in a closed system.
Thanks for the input,
Girl in K'zoo

Denise I agree with you in that these products do have a place in horticulture but they need not be used unless other methods are found to be ineffective. Some growers use systemics as a preventative measure which is unnecessary. If one does a little digging it is not difficult to see that we have created many resistant strains of insects and weeds for that matter, all due to overzealous or improper use of pesticides.

I completely understand that this is a personal choice but I feel obligated to present the whole picture of insecticide use. Yes you can use insecticides in a responsible way but this is only diminishing personal and environmental exposure and not eliminating it.

Girlinkzoo can I ask how you administer your systemic insecticide? Do you water the plant with it and allow them to drain? Where does the excess solution drain to? The cycle of pesticide use continues long after the bugs are dead. If the insecticide enters the sewage system it takes a fast track to the nearest waterway along with the rest of the sewage after it is broken down by bacterial action. If you were to use the insecticide on your lawn it will also end up in the nearest water catchment area and enter the local watershed, this may take days, months, years or decades but it is inevitable.

Please understand I am not trying to be confrontational I just think that one needs to weigh the pros and cons and when the cons are as serious as these they should not be taken lightly.

Mike

Grin

My bosses would be pretty irritated with me if I watered my office plants so poorly that water drained out into the environment or into the sewer system. Each plant has its own little tray and I watered just enough to saturate each plant; no spilling, no drainage.

There is a difference between not trying to be confrontational and trying not to be confrontational. The second comes across much better when interacting with people you don't know.

My 15 years of combined college and career experience in soils, storm water systems, and site design leave me pretty well qualified to determine responsible use of insecticides. The State of Michigan has licensed me to design storm systems for even the most stringent cities and counties so I have a pretty good idea of what happens when something is introduced to an environment.

I'm sorry I come off so defensive in my first thread in this board. I hope most people are welcomed a little more warmly, but I thank those of you who answered my questions and hope future posts will be met with a less harsh reception.

Girl in K'zoo

I totally understand about the use of chemicals and also was aware of the alleged issue with BATS and the bees. The plants that I treat as such are enclosed within my screened lanai thus should lessen the chance of bringing harm to the bee population. With use of this product, I found the need for any other treatment of this kind unnecessary... so...that's a good thing too!

Girl in K'zoo I am sorry if I sounded like I was attacking you but that was not my intention. I was trying to bring attention to the larger problems associated with pesticide use in a general sense and not a personal attack. Please accept my apology.

This is what is happening in my area of the country because of the petrochemical industry. An entire community is experiencing frighteningly low male birth weights. Lets just say I don't have many good things to say about the petro chemical companies and their products.

Mike

Here is a link that might be useful: Please watchTv Documentary