Insecticides

mgodbee

I have a question about insecticides. I have been doing bonsai's for a while, but never have known much about insect treatment. My home seems to be a pest haven though, even though I always seem to be able to fix it quickly with insecticidal soap and a keen eye. My question though is what can I use as a preventative measure, what would you reccommend, and how to use it.

My bonsais are mugo, jap. maple, trident, ficus willow (3), ficus retusa, fukien, bald cypress (2), redwood, alberta spruce, black olive, boxwood (2), azalea, zelkova, oak, and a dwarf holly. I have several nursery trees and cuttings too. I know the fukien is picky, and I have great success with the soap so I wouldn't use it for that. The rest, I would love to use a systemic or something. The boxwoods (reg and kingsville) are the worst, they always have trouble (the ones in my yard too). The Zelkova is a caterpillar haven. The ficus' and olive seem to never have trouble at all. Any reccommendations? fungicide reccommendations would be great too.

I know generally most people don't use them, but I am tired of the constant battle, and I am ready to wage chemical warfare on them..

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jzak

Assuming regular care and maintainance and with strictly a judicial application, i've had very good success with Marathon 1% Granular, including specimen fukien. It is quite expensive, but a little bit will go a long way. I'm also noticing that the active ingredient in marathon is finding its way into insecticide products which are more affordable. depending on the hatching cycle of the criters, a repeated application may be necessary.

http://greenhouse.ucdavis.edu/safety/msds/Marathon.PDF

As a general fungicide, i use Immunox made by Spectracide, which is readily found in most nursery areas and Lowes. When a copper sulphate formula is required, especially for my prized acers,crab apples etc. I use Phyton 27, which again is quite expensive but will go a long long way.

In a lot of ways, the use of these is a no win battle in that the more you use these, the greater the tolerance being built up by the critter population. Also its very easy to get lulled into a false sense of security in thinking that a systemic is a proverbial 'silver bullet'. But then i don't think anybody stays in bonsai for the pure ease and comfort of it all.......

tom_termine

Hi -

Any idea where to buy this stuff? I have looked around for it but cannot locate it. When I click on the link you provided, I can see a pdf with a bunch of product info, but nothing on where and how to buy some.

Thanks in advance!

__________________
Tom

susieq

Greetings Mgodbee,
One of my favorite systemics is something called Cygon. I mix 2 tsp to a gallon of water and spray everything with it. (Fukien Teas included) It is great against scale and other pests such as mites, aphids, etc..... also use it for girdle bugs (not sure of the correct name of that pest) on my junipers. Generally every few weeks through the growing season down here. I switch off with other things now and then to avoid imunizing the bugs against it.

I know that Cygon is not sold in North Carolina so it is not available everywhere. We have places here that sell professional pest control products to the public. ONe is called "The Bug Depot" One is called "Pest control General". I don't know if this product is sold in GA or not but you might ask at a garden center. Home Depot never has it though. Try a non chain nursery center.

Good luck
susieq