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Originally Posted by lilsoy  Hi everyone, I just joined today and this is my third post asking for advice already! I hope that I will be able to accumulate enough experience to respond to posts in the future instead of just asking questions...!!
Last one for today though... I read on the Internet that I can wipe my orchid leaves with rubbing alcohol to kill bugs. I don't want to hurt my orchid... Just want to confirm with some more experienced orchid-lovers that it is ok to do this before I start swabbing!
Thanks again! |
I always kept a (cleaned out) windex bottle full of rubbing alcohol in the greenhouse so I could spot treat for scale and mealies. I'm not real big on using too many toxic chemicals unless abosolutely necessary, as I have always had cats and other critters that I don't want exposed to poisons. Alcohol is very effective, but you do have to keep up on things, as it will only kill pests, but not their eggs. I suggest quarantining any infested plants in an area that is convenient for you to repeat spray every few days for a couple weeks. Also, water the plant first, wait an hour or two, then use alcohol, so the roots are already saturated and don't take up a bunch of isopropyl.
Best advantage of alcohol: watching a colony of mealies died a burning, paniful death.
-Cj