spidermites on shimpaku

PatArizona

Jim...I'm using 91%...not sure what Carl might have to say about that.

But, it has worked for me whenever I've called upopn it.

Alwas remember, and never forget to "...spray from three to four times with intervals of three days...".

Pat

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BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

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bonsaial1

Hi Pat, not wishing to get in a pissing match but how does alcohol differ from insecticide? In my method I too use neem oil as the insecticide. I was wondering what capacity the alcohol serves since it is used in conjunction with the neem oil.

Is the alcohol used as a nerve agent like Sevin or are you just useing it cause it works? There are many safer solvents to use if this is it's capacity.



This quote seems to imply that you are adverse to useing insecticides but poisoning by an alcohol induced coma is OK . Just confused by this reasoning.

Best regards, Al

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sauce

Dawn dish soap and water alone has always worked for me. The addition of neem or alcohol might accelerate their death but I wonder if either one is actually necessary to complete the job?

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PatArizona

"...This quote seems to imply that you are adverse to useing insecticides but poisoning by an alcohol induced coma is OK . Just confused by this reasoning. ..."

Good comment/question Al...

I'm not a chemist or biologist or insecticidist...or scientist of any ilk, for that manner.

Don't be confused, Al...

My adversitivity does not relate to the ultimate method of death...rather, it is a matter of which does the least harm to the evnvironment.

We've all heard about insecticides contaminating the environment, haven't we? Rachel Carson ring a bell? And, since I've never seen any evidence supporting damage to the environment caused by alcochol, I opt to use Carl's rather than any commercial insecticides.

Would I ever use an insecticide? Yes I would...however, only after IDing the pest, and determining that a hosing of clear water won't do the job, and determing that Carl's won't do it. Then, I would use ONLY an insecticide that is indicated for the specific pest...and is deemed safe for the particular plant.

I am of the school that believes in ALWAYS starting with the least toxic possible remedy, then move progressively on to the more toxic...if needed.

Having stated this before, I will now be dedundant...the ONLY bug juice I keep "in stock" is Carl's. And, I have used it only twice in the last two years.

Have all this, if anbody can direct me evidence that alcohol does harm the environment...in the contxt of our bonsai...please point me to it...I will be glad to evaluate the evidence. And, maybe change my stand.

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

IndieBookMan

From what I remember how it works is... the soap breaks the surface tension of the water, so the li'l bug actually gets wet (which is hard to do, since the mites can be smaller then the water droplets), while the alcohol acts as an astringent, litterally sucking the moisture out of the bugs body. That is why it works so well with soft-bodies bugs like mites, but not so well with protected bugs like scale.

The alcohol evaporates really quickly, I believe harmlessly, into the air. I think it would be more environmentally safe than most pesticides... but sometimes you do need to turn up the heat and get serious.

I agree with starting with the simplest solution, then working your way up... first spray with water - this really will often times get rid of them, then try soap-alcohol-water, then the organic pesticides, then the synthetic.

I learned this not from bonsai, but from managing the educational greenhouse at work, and from my houseplants.

If I am wrong in my understaning of how the soap-alcohol-water solution works, please correct me.

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Brad Grochowski
AuthorsBookshop.com

PatArizona

Brad...that sounds good to me...

Thanks for posting...

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.