Wasp spray harmful to vanda?

[Danelady]

Would wasp spray be harmfu to my Vanda?
Yesterday when I watered it I saw something fly away and didn't think much of it. This morning I saw what looked like a wasp fly away while I was watering. Then, I saw another wasp struggling up out of the Spanish Moss that I have decorating the basket. The water ran them off, but they must have a nest in there somewhere. Would a mild dishsoap type solution work on wasps or do I need something stronger. Then, would that harm the Vanda. There is a tiny nub at the base of one of the leaves. I am hoping that is a spike and I sure don't want to endanger that! Anyone else had wasps in their 'chids?
Thanks

[mehitabel]

Danelady, I know this is hard to believe, but I've tested it myself and it's *true*.

Soapy water will kill any insect, including wasps. This is why the father in "Big, Fat Greek Wedding" was able to kill them with Windex. For wasps, you need a lot of soap-- app 1/4 cup of ivory liquid to a quart of water. I wouldn't use this on a whole nest full of wasps, I'm too scared of them. But on one or two, it will first knock them down to writhe on the floor, then you follow up with plenty more squirts and they expire. I have done it myself and could hardly believe it. Just Ivory Liquid and water and they drop like a rock.

If the wasps are in the medium, you'll have to use a drench, but it will still work.

I agree, wasp spray will probably be harmful to your orchids.

[katrina]

I had wasps hanging out in the 'chids earlier this summer. They weren't building any nests...just hanging out...napping sort of. Normally I am afraid of wasps because they're just so darned aggressive but these were very docile. They'd be there every morning...some tucked down in the unrolling leaves of the cycnoche and cycnodes...others just hanging on the undersides of some of the other plants. They'd hang around most of the morning...be gone during the afternoon...then come back in the evening. Because they were docile and not bothering me...I left them alone. After about 3 weeks they just stopped coming around. It was a mystery. Maybe yours are doing the same. ??

Question about the Ivory. Soap can be very caustic so at that concentration isn't it possible that it will do some harm to the roots and/or spikes? Seems really strong to me. I've only ever used a small amount to larger water volume so I'm just curious. ?? Thanks!

[mehitabel]

Good point, Katrina. Don't know. I was concentrating on the killing, and I've used pure ivory liquid on flowers (just a dab) to get rid of mealies and scale, so I took safety for granted. But roots are another thing.

But I do know Safer's Insecticidal soap can be used safely as a drench. Maybe someone brave can try it as a wasp killer and let us know? LOL

I was chased for a half block once by ground hornets (very aggressive indeed), so there'll never be any room for them and me in the same place.

[NancyG]

Bayer's 3 in one would get them too. Be careful sun isn't shining on them when you spray. I've done that thinking it would dry before the sun shined on the leaves but the leaves got burned. Spray in the shade.

[delphiguy]

Recently I had 2 wasps visiting my garden, at first I was terrified of them, but they were
not aggressive at all and as katrina says very docile. When I pass through them it seems
they know that im scared of them and just stays out of my way and then move back afterwards.

When i am sitting with my plants, they just stay in one corner, what amazes me is that my
garden is not really safe for these insects as i have carnivoruos plants everywhere and they
seem to stay away from them too. So since they don't bother me, i tend to leave them alone.

I can't apply insecticides as there are also butterflies and dragonflies visiting my garden.

[Danelady]

The biggest thing I'm worried about is them building a nest on the underside of the basket and then becoming aggressive guarding it. I'm all for leaving them alone if they leave me/my plants alone.

[katrina]

I am really afraid of wasps (I'm allergic) and am with you completely on the nest building. There's a different sort of energy around a nest building wasp vs. what was hanging around in my 'chid this year. If they're just flying away when you water and/or not even moving...almost like they are napping...chances are no nest.

I'm super cautious about spraying anything because we do raise praying mantids. Well...they raise themselves....we collect the egg cases in the fall/winter and then release them once they hatch in the spring. I would absolutely hate to harm any of our little friends...they do hang out in the orchids. Plus, I have sooooo many honeybees and other bees visiting the landscape beds and I don't want to harm them either. Of course, we also have a lot of hummingbirds and butterflies too. Oh heck...I don't want to harm any of them. Before orchids... I used zero insecticides...now...well...I've been forced on occasion to pull out the big guns for a few plants. I'm even super cautious about spraying the so called organic stuff because if it can kill a harmful...it can kill a beneficial. When I do have to spray...the plant(s) is separated to an area where the insecticide won't harm innocent bystanders...or should I say by-flyers.

My nemesis this year has been spider mites...I've had to spray for them. The other thing that I hate but I don't spray...I just keep shoo-ing them out...the nasty grass spiders. Grass spiders freak me out! They like to build their ambush webs in the bottom slots of my pots and or in the tops of the medium in the pots...then they scurry in and out of the medium. They are fast and creepy!

Delphi -- don't you have the MONSTER wasps over there? I'm talking more than double the size of our US wasps. ?? I know I saw a Discovery channel show on some giant wasps and hornets in some corner of the world.

[rcb]

Danelady, I also have quite a few wasps that hang out in my Ctsm area. I have just left them alone, they don't seem to be building nests. What they look like they are doing is hanging out collecting the dew in the morning.

As for wasp spray, I did have one that built a nest on the back of one of my mounts back in the spring. I did spray it, but I didn't spray the plant directly. It came down to I wanted the nest gone more than I wanted the orchid it was on.

[Hummer344]

Drown them. Put the plant in a bucket of water. I would not use wasp/hornet killer on the medium.

[articuno75]

The Brookn's Recipe will kill them. It works on yellow jackets too.

[sruane]

The REALLY BIG wasps that I think katrina is referring to are Japanese giant hornets. I've seen that Discovery channel show and they are BIG!

[delphiguy]

Originally Posted by katrina

Delphi -- don't you have the MONSTER wasps over there? I'm talking more than double the size of our US wasps. ?? I know I saw a Discovery channel show on some giant wasps and hornets in some corner of the world.

I am not aware of any, but if there are, then i would have screamed like a
girl and ran hehe. I am terrified of these insects because of some bad
childhood experience with it (was chased by a swarm of it). The first time i
saw them in my garden i was like what do i do now? but they have been nice
guest so thats ok with me. anyways this is the first time i've been
comfortable with them around for a long time.

[katrina]

Japanese Giant Hornets...ahhhh...yeah...that's it! OMG! Talk about a frightening insect!

Delphi...I know what it feels like to be chased by a swarm. Happened to me when I kicked up a nest of ground hornets as a kid....then again as a teen when I unknowingly stirred up a wasp nest. LOTS of stings both times. Not fun! I wouldn't blame you for screaming like a girl. LOL!!

[delphiguy]

yeah, in my case i was tricked into throwing a slipper at the nest coz i was told that
sweet honey would come out. I ran like crazy that time and i was lucky i was never
stung as i was able to get indoors immediately.

anyways i dont think they're building nest in my garden, as they are usually hovering
over the blooms, maybe they're just gathering nectar, what intrigues me is that
there's only 2 of them i assumed that there'd be more, maybe they work in shifts of 2
hehehe. And they are smart enough to avoid the pitcher plants.....

[katrina]

Originally Posted by delphiguy

yeah, in my case i was tricked into throwing a slipper at the nest coz i was told that
sweet honey would come out. I ran like crazy that time and i was lucky i was never
stung as i was able to get indoors immediately.

anyways i dont think they're building nest in my garden, as they are usually hovering
over the blooms, maybe they're just gathering nectar, what intrigues me is that
there's only 2 of them i assumed that there'd be more, maybe they work in shifts of 2
hehehe. And they are smart enough to avoid the pitcher plants.....

Too funny! I'm sure you're right...they're just gathering nectar or you'd have a lot more hanging about.

[Danelady]

I haven't seen the wasps the last 2 mornings. Maybe they didn't like their early morning showers at the Hotel Vanda!!

[delphiguy]

Yesterday afternoon and this morning i only saw one of them. And its resting on my
spanish moss. Maybe the other one decided not to join him coz its been raining or
maybe the pitcher plants finally got them. hehehe.