Isolation

[skipper]

When you buy a new plant, how long do you keep it in isolation? Also do you spray it just in case it may have bugs? Thanks

Dale

[Ray]

I prefer not to treat plants unless I know there is an issue.

That said, the maturation time for most insects varies with the temperature, but a week to 10 days will usually allow any eggs to hatch, so two weeks of careful observation is usually sufficient. If you are more conservative, or newer at spotting them, I'd keep them isolated for as much as a month.

Fungal and bacterial diseases are usually immediately visible, so don't buy those (acknowledging that mail-order makes it tough).

Viruses are a crap shoot, as infected plants can be grown for years with no sign of the infection. If you see signs that even suggest they are infected, don't buy/return/destroy, as appropriate.

[skipper]

Ray, thanks for the info. I'll do just that.

Dale

[janet_a]

I'm a windowsill grower; I do two weeks at a minimum, and don't spray until I see something funky.

[otis 226]

Originally Posted by janet_a

I'm a windowsill grower; I do two weeks at a minimum, and don't spray until I see something funky.

I do just about the same before I introduce newbies to the lanai collection...
Tony

[Brooke]

New purchases are the only time I will prophylactially use an insecticide. I saturate the entire plant and the media to make sure there are no hidden visitors. In a g/h I do not have a place to isolate anything so I want to make sure I don't bring in any hitchhikers.

I also repot as soon as possible and when bare root, I scrub everything with a soft toothbrush and soap and water.

Brooke

[Greybeard]

Knock on wood, I have not had a problem with this so far but I have to agree with Ray. Treating a plant when there is no sign of a problem may cause more problems down the line, I would just isolate it for a couple weeks. That is unless you are in asituation like Brooke, in which case you may have to treat