Re: CP digest 515

Andrew Marshall (andrewm@eskimo.com)
Tue, 31 Oct 1995 11:03:50 -0800 (PST)

Hello out there,
In reference to last nights opus. I to use an oil/ soap mix
spray upon occasion. It goes as follows.
to make the base mixture.
1 cup of vegetable oil to 1 tablespoon of lemon scented
dishwasing liquid. Put in a screw top type jar with a lid on and shake
vigorously to mix.
To make the actual spray I use 1 to 2 teaspoons of the base mix
in a cup of water. Put this in a spray bottle, shake well and saturate
the plant, both sides of the leaves.
I will sometimes "spice" it up a bit with some properly measured
amounts of orthene or dimethoate. This for a really bad attack of
something.
It is important to remember that this spray unspiced, is not a
systemic. It only kills ALL insects and must be in contact to do it. It
works by suffocating them. Beware on which insects it is sprayed on. It
does NOT distinguish good from bad. Also beware of exactly what plants
you spray it on. I have used this spray to good or bad for many years
and it will kill some plants. I will list the plants I have found that
will take it and those that won't. In the dosage of 2 teaspoon
strength. Any Sarracenia that is at least 3 yrs old, well established
hard leaved Nepenthes (not seedlings,fresh out of tc plantlets or those
fresh out of excessive humidity enclosures. I'm sure you know what I mean)
in the dosage of 1 teaspoon. any smaller Sarracenia, Nepenthes, most
common Drosera, most common terrestrial Utricularia, Heliamphora,
Dionaea, Pinguicula, Darlingtonia not planted in live sphagnum moss.
DO NOT USE ON Cephalotus. if it doesn't actually smother the
plant, it usually encorages a type of uncontrollable mold that will.
Now obviously if you are going to spice it up with a chemical you
will have to use your own discretion.
This spray works well on scale(especially when used in
conjunction with a properly wielded cotten swab), aphids, meally bugs(see
the note accompanying scale), spider and other types of mites, thrips as
well as like I mentioned ant other bugs such as honey bees, lady bird
beetles etc.
Lastly I have noticed that some times it will encorage the same
type of killer mold that kills Cephalotus in the live sphagnum moss. For
this reason I am hesitant to use it on my epiphytic Utricularia or on
Darlingtonia planted in live sphagnum. Here I will soak a cotten ball in
the spray and apply it direct. I will usually have mixed an appropriate
systemic insecticide with it to keep the bugs in the moss at bay.
You can use this on your vegetable or flower garden right up
until the day of eating(wash first) unless you have added an
insecticide. Then I wouldn't eat anything. Of course if you are someone
who doesn't care about toxins on you food then go right ahead but DON'T
blame me.
btw. if you kill any plant through following these notes, its not my
fault. I am merely reporting what I have done with this mix. Also I
want to mention that I found the mix in Organic Gardening mag. They use
it too.
bye for now
Good Growing
Andrew