Got my DE - now let's talk dusting :)

[taradale]

I got some diatomaceous earth (DE) for my orchids and now I'm wondering about the actual act of 'dusting'. When you dust - do you just sprinkle some over each orchid and dust the leaves and bark or do you try to aim for the bark? For reference - I'll be dusting Paphs, Phals and Vuyls.

Also, I figured out why my Vuyl Cambria blooms left me so soon - she's riddled with snails, slugs, etc and now she's snail salad (it's so sad). Luckily I have her in her hanging basket and haven't found presence of another snail anywhere else (except for that one incident with the one slithering (eckkk) up the outside of Paph Wardii's glass vase.)

With the Vuyl is it overkill to pull her out of her plastic pot and dust the 'clump' (for lack of a better word)?

Thanks for your advice!
Kath-

BTW...finding DE wasn't as easy as I thought it would be - especially since I just wanted to start out with a small amount. Finally found 1.5pd box of it on the internet for a reasonable price.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Yes, pull the rootball out of the pot and dust. I usually spred the stuff on the floor of my GH, and any where I have seen activity. It goes every where, as I use the ziplock sandwich bags that I was going to give some away in, only to find that they leaked the DE pretty badly. This turned out to make a great sifter for spreading. I just shake the bag everywhere I want it. When you buy the stuff in 10# bags, you can be very liberal with it. The first time I water, the stuff gets washed off the leaves. Maybe a salt shaker or empty spice bottle with plastic inner lid with holes would be good for application. I think the top of the pots would be good enough. Hold the shaker high so as to let the stuff spread a bit before hitting the pot surface. I would put it on the surface of *ALL* of your pots, even the mounties if you have any. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ

please be sure to wear a mask the de can get into your lungs and never leave, just follow the instructions on the box and you will be ok

[taradale]

Thanks Cynthia - excellent ideas. I'll have to use the baggie method this time. I just threw out two of my used up spices. I'll know better next time.

Duhhdog, oddly enough their isn't much direction (just dust the area is pretty much all it is says) on the box nor any mention of using a mask. It's made by Concern and is especially for gardens, plants and dogs. It's also suppose to be food grade vs the the hot tub/pool type. Hope it works as well. I'll use the mask as you suggested tho.

Oh, also forget to mention that I found a half-inch paint brush help spreads it around on the plant itself. Talk about looking like an obsessed orchid owner. All the cabins are pretty much filled around me and there I am paintbrushing all my orchids. At least they'll think I'm crazy and stay away - LOL.

[taradale]

Just another tip when dusting DE, which probably is obvious to everyone else, but moi - if you wear contacts - good idea to put those shades on .

Kath-

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Paint brush? Sounds like too much trouble to me. If I took that approach with my 600 orchids, well, my husband never see me. Cynthia

[taradale]

Just a quick update on how the DE worked with my Vuyl - great. I took the rootball out today and no sign of those nasty snails nor slugs. I did end up dumping the current medium out when I pulled the rootball out to dust it. Today, she got a bath of Superthrive to help settle her in.

Thanks!