Expert: Christopher Littrell - 7/22/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I was wondering if it is okay to use systemic rose spray (to control aphids) on my carnivorous plants? I have various sarracenia and a cephalotus. The spray in question contains triflorine (39g/L) and acephate (45g/L). Are these safe? If not, which ingredients should I be looking for? I live in New Zealand so I'm hoping we'll have them! Thanks!!

ANSWER: Hello Mikala,

I have never used, nor heard of anyone using systematic rose spray with triflorine and acephate on carnivorous plants. I do know that Ortho systematic pesticide works and is safe, and that most water based insecticides, like pyrethrines, are good, but I am not sure how the product you described would work. Other methods of control would be to submerge the plants completely for 24 hours in soft water, take them out for a day, then resubmerge them for 24 hours again as tends to drown out all the aphids and would be safe to do with Sarracenias periodically, however; I am not sure the Cephalotus would enjoy that since they prefer slightly less moist soil and good drainage as compared to Sarracenias. Also, a good natural option is neem oil extract with pyrethrines. Neem oil is both an insecticidal and fungicidal product made from plant oils. It is safe to use on carnivorous plants. Avoid anything that says soap based in the ingredients. The soap based ingredients would include natural potassium salts of fatty acids which break down into fertilizer and can damage the Ph of carnivorous plant soil.

I am sure you can find something there to spray your plants with.

Christopher

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Christopher :)
My question was more based on the idea that the active ingredient of Ortho Systemic insect killer is apparently acephate (one of the 2 in my rose spray) so I wondered if the other ingredient combined with this, and the dose rate of the concentrate I stated would be okay? Sorry I wasn't clearer.
I have never seen or heard of Neem oil for sale in my country. My reason for not wanting to use pyrethrines is that I thought they were only topical, hence I would need to keep spraying much more regularly than with a systemic. Unfortunately the plant with the worst aphid problem is of course the cephalotus with I don't really want to soak in the middle of winter in its slow phase :(
Oh, I made a mistake with the spelling of the other ingredient if it helps at all, its actually triforine (without the "L")
Thanks heaps!! Sorry to be a pain!
Mikala

Answer
Hello Mikala,

The acephate itself should not be the problem then, I haven't used the acephate based products, however; do know of some that do (Sarracenia Northwest) with good results.

The triforine is the problem since I cannot find any specifics on the chemical for carnivorous plant use. It is a fungicide and is primarily used on roses, so I would not know if it would be of any use, or cause any damage to, carnivorous plants. It would be an experiment into the unknown I would say.

Some other pesticides that could be used safely for the removal of aphids would be Dimethoate and Malathion. Try to find a product that only has Acephate or one of the other chemicals without the Triforine would be best until you can find out more about that chemical. Some of the specific chemical interventions might work well on some plants and kill others.

If you have the beneficial species of ladybug, or some newly hatched praying mantises, in New Zealand they will eat aphids all day long. That would be a non-hazardous way of getting rid of the pests.

Good luck with getting rid of the aphids...

Christopher