Pesticides in the orchid house
Orchid growers should aim to ‘manage pests’ encountered in the orchid house rather than trying to eradicate them by sole reliance on chemical pesticides.
Pesticides are one of several management tools which may be utilized when growing orchids and should be integrated into the management program along with non-chemical methods.
Insecticides used to manage or control insect populations may be either contact, systemic or fumi- gant insecticides. Changing technologies has resulted in insecticides acting in more than one way.
Some suggested sources of technical advice – choosing a product, application rates and safe usage.
www.sgaonline.org.au/sga-garden-product-guide-safe-for-you-n-nature
www.yates.com.au/plants/problem-solver/pests (many coloured photographs to help with identification of insect pests)
Orchid societies, orchid nurseries technical notes, ornamental horticulture product retailers.
Other information sources:
Practical Guide to Australian Orchid growing -Wayne Turville;
Orchid Growing in Queensland -A basic Guide Bundaberg Orchid Society;
Basic Guide to Orchid Growing in the Sunshine State – Ross Maidment;
Introducing Cattleyas Noni Mammatt;Beginning with Orchids – A simple guide for growers Beryl Robertson Woombye Qld.
What Garden Pest or Disease Is That -Judy McMaugh, first published in 1985 remains an excellent reference source.
Author: Steve S