AboutWayne King Expertise Any question about orchid culture. I have thirty+ yrs of growing experience,president 2x of our local Orchid Growers Guild,held a position in most all other offices associated with the Guild at one time or another. Head of Orchid judging team for local club meetings and some shows. Member of two Orchid Socities and local Rep.for Mid America Orchid Congress for several yrs.I have in my collection about 800 Orchid plants of all types.
Experience
Past/Present clients Previously an expert on expertcentral.com.
I have my orchids in my screened-in patio (pool area) on a couple of nice wooden benches I built.
I live in Orlando, Florida so when the winter comes around I put them in my garage; wooden stands and all.
My wife is concerned that I am bringing "critters" into our house. The patio is screened-in, but we do get some critters getting into it; she's afraid a roach or two can come get into the orchid bark.
My question is: is there anything I can water my Phals and Cattleyas with prior to bringing them into the garage? I am thinking that an insecticide will work, but wanted to ask which type is best for these types of orchids as I don't want to kill them.
I am thinking that perhaps I can mix that into the water cycle a week or two prior to bringing them inside the house.
Thanks in advance as always,
Angelo
Answer Angelo, none of the insecticides that I use on my orchids specify roaches as a target. You might try using sticky paper (like fly paper but it comes in two-sided sheets). You could just lay it on the potting mix between waterings. It could be a bit messy and some of the potting mix will stick to it. You could check at a garden center and see what they recommend in the way of chemical treatment. In the past, I have used isotox but it is quite smelly.
