Big Update! - Treating thrips on my Orchids - Did it work?

Thrips have been the worst pest I had to deal with the past couple of years and DIY solutions have not been enough to get me rid of them. So I decided to use something stronger! So far I think they are working! I used:
Substral Celaflor Careo Pest Free Combi Sticks
Laser 240 SC Sprayable
Repotting using the sticks • Discovered an Orchid p...
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[@MissOrchidGirl]

Blasted plug in is glitching again! 😭 Ok won't be using it again, sorry for the red screen 😵‍💫 ps: the automated cc cracks me up, apparently I've been overwhelmed by ribs the past years! 💀

[@LukeSWErrthing]

Your ribs infestation sounds very serious~

[@tinasachs8688]

Hmm, as funny as the automated cc can be - and I'm not entirely sure how it works but - 12 hours later and there are no more ribs, just thrips. No red screen either 🤷‍♀. I'm going to try those celaflor sticks. There's a mealybug infestation on my orchids each year and one dendrobium that I got from a friend as a rescue plant, has an ongoing scale problem. Thanks for that update video on the product!

[@valariecarey2716]

We are not only here for the good (buds & flowers, etc) we need this information as well. So please continue sharing both ups and downs of this journey as I need all the help I can get, whether I'm experiencing the issue or not. Love your videos!!

[@cleanslatekate6367]

This is so true! We all go through the ups and downs and seeing the real life situations is so much better than just blooms all the time. I do love blooms too though 😉

[@JaninaCarlona]

When it comes to thrips I feel your pain. I had something eating my plants but I didn't know what I had. I almost gave up the hobby because I had lost so many plants. I had to find out what was eating them, so, following your recommendation from an older video I purchased a microscope. Freaked me out! I have thrips! I found out 2 things, thrips easily become immune to pesticides and soap kills them. I hit them twice with a pesticide and then I used this formula I found on KZbin (who would have thought) that uses 2 types of soap, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and or course water. I've done this a couple of times and so far it seems to work. I only saw one thrip yesterday which if it wasn't dead it is now. I will keep up the soap solution just for good measure. I am glad you found a solution to your thrips problem, it isn't fun.

[@travelinggirl6681]

I tried to locate the sticks that she uses up above but since I am watching this a year later, they are no longer available. Do you remember the formula for the soap solution that you used?

[@032e]

Thrips are very difficult to treat, mostly due to the chemical resistance they've built. Spinosad and Pyrethrum are good choices. I recommend blue sticky traps as well! The traps are excellent for monitoring the population, blue is best for thrips. Additionally, the traps can be baited with pheromones, but probably wouldn't recommend for indoor use. Ive also had success with spraying infected foliage with 3% H2O2 :)

[@anndriggers6660]

Hi Danni! I've been rinsing my orchids off when I water them (I dry off the crevaces between the leaves with a paper towel or Qtip to prevent rot). This practice has changed the game for me. No more pests and my orchids love it! Granted, I only have about 70-ish orchids, but I break up the care into groups of 12-15 at a time so it's not such a gigantic job (just 4 or 5 smalls jobs 🙄) Looking forward to bloom season for my fall/winter bloomers, without battling spider mites, mealybugs and thripes! So glad you found a good solution as well! I'm gonna see if I can find those spikes or something similar in Texas. Thanks for the great videos, as always...

[@sylviabeso4449]

Hello from San Diego California,USA! Looks like the combo sticks are not available in the US. Do you know of an alternate insecticide? Thank you for sharing your experiences.

[@lanfordripley7780]

BioAdvanced Plant Food Insect Control Spikes, 10 Spikes

[@travelinggirl6681]

@@lanfordripley7780 Those have now been discontinued, also.

[@viivi_kp]

I can only find the spray Substral version in the local flowershop. It has been my go to pesticide whenever I got a new orchid. Unfortunately I have to quarantine the treated ones for a day because Acetamiprid is highly toxic for birds, honey bees, and aquatic lifes.

[@mayastoyanova3020]

Yey! Great news! Fingers crossed you'll get rid of thrips for good 🤞 Please, tell us the story of the baby jackdaw 🐦

[@ancaboghian3368]

Hello Daniela, I hope you're well. Silly suggestion from me, I used spiders to keep my dendrobiums clear of mites, my roses as well. I placed a couple of spiders from outside in the pots, and they cleared the plants of mites in a couple of days. Not sure if that would work for you, just thought I should suggest it

[@mysticshining]

Congrats! I just discovered thrips for the first time on two orchid blooms! It's terrible... I'm going to try Bonide systemic granules (Imidacloprid). I've heard a lot of success with it, and I researched the active ingredient and it seems similar in effectiveness and low toxicity to the sticks you're using. So we'll see. Now that I've seen examples of thrip damage on leaves I think I might have them on another orchid that never blooms.🤞🏼

[@ZeephToy]

I have a big thank you to adress! My orchids have been struggling this year and I couldn't find the cause. Roots were dying off, I thought it was because they weren't adapting to the mix of moss and bark, I had to repot some of them every two months. Well, it so happens that i had a thrips infestation, but they were located mostly around the roots. Nothing on the leaves which made it hard to notice. I ordered the insecticide sticks and two days later I already don't see any sign of those nasty bugs anymore ! Thank you so much for all your hard work, videos and advices ! All I know, I've mostly learnt it from you ! ❤️❤️❤️

[@sunnyraingene]

This is great news and at the right time! I’m waiting on some orchids from a nursery in Germany and I’m not afraid to use insecticide if I have to! My current two phals have been with me for two years and they are thriving without pests. I plan to keep it that way and quarantine the new girls when they arrive. Thank you for sharing your discovery ❤

[@LukeSWErrthing]

I got my first infestation of aphids on one of my oncidiums (thankfully, I had quarantined it as it was also infected by slugs) and the despair you feel in watching your orchids decline while being unable to help is so very real and debilitating. All you can do is give them the tools to defend themselves and hope they recover. Your DIY solution worked wornders for me as a quick solution to the aphids, but I'm sure I will need to be better equipped in the future. Your videos 100% have helped me keep my orchids healthy and safe. Thank you!!!❤

[@tropicalplantsfinland]

I have around 70 orchids and 20ish other tropical plants. The past 3 years I have tried different methods, but in the end - as you said, they got the upper hand. My thrips don’t seem to go for the buds, they like the newer leafs and growths especially. So I need to spray the new growth the minute I see the eye pushing (those buggers probably already smelled the juicy soft new growth.. 👿 ). At least, that way I have been able to keep on top of things. I spray my Hoyas as well, first shower, then spray. I do believe we don’t get that stick format anymore. However, I think I found something similar. It’s as well substral. The key ingredient in it is acetamipride. Seem to be at least killing the fruit flies in contact, one of my dendrobiums had loads of those stuck to it. I had used before the Schädlings-frei-spray, but I think it wasn’t as effective as this new one. The old one has Pyrethrine in it. Still a struggle with them. I lost almost all my seedlings this winter. I was way too busy to keep the momentum. 🤷‍♀️ especially as I was giving showers to my plants at the same time. Hopefully your experiment succeed and the product continues to work.

[@AmyBuccilla]

Thank you so much for posting! I live in South Florida and I am so afraid to put ANY orchids outdoors because I know they will be eaten by whatever. Thrips is a giant scare for me here. I do have a plan but it will take some time to get an area built for my orchids. I only have about 10 orchids. All phals except for one D. nobile that was given to me after the bloom fell off and I am CLUELESS about D. nobiles but I do have three new canes! It will definitely need time to recover from whatever the flower shop put it through but I'm so excited to see what I have as far as blooms. Almost everything I have learned about orchids has been from you! Thank you so much! My husband loves the orchids also and I had to tell him to stop buying them for me for now at least! LOL!

[@daniels8297]

I feel your pain when it comes to spraying with chemicals. Sadly when I lost my zygo and almost most of dendrobiums, I decided to use diluted insecticide (acetamipryd) to soak my orchids. I also tried neem oil and leaf shine but new growths didn't like it at all. Thanks for sharing results of your test 👍

[@rosea.6867]

So happy for you! When you pulled out the Catasetums, and they are looking much better, it was hard not to get emotional! It can be overwhelming juggling an infestation with a busy life. I’m glad there’s light at the end of the tunnel 😊

[@wandashaw3551]

Hi Danny, great news that you have found products that are getting you some positive results I can only imagine the frustration you have been experiencing.

[@ydabney3857]

I’m loving learning with you! Thanks for all the great information. From Sunny Sarasota Florida.

[@bibicheknauf4163]

I, too, lost many buds to thrips😡 and I feel your pain and disappointment. Luckily, I grow my orchids outside, living in Southwest Florida, and, probably due to my advanced age, I do not have the same phobia younger generations have with pesticides so, I use the “big guns” and, attack, attack, attack😜. So glad your new approach works so well👍

[@TropiChic]

Which pesticide did you use? I grow orchids outdoors too and many have thrips right now…help!

[@Amasonstar22]

At one minute in, when you start the "before we start..." segment, the video cuts to a text/graphic error message. I think it happened with an earlier vid as well recently. It doesn't detract from your video, just letting you know!😊

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Ah darn I thought I fixed it 😭 thanks for letting me know! 🧡

[@sinemozturkmen1732]

Hi, thanks for your review. It's really helpful. Unfortunately I can't find this sticks in UK. I don't have any spraying options for plants neither. If it's possible could you please share any other products to treat spider mites and thrips, and maybe scale bug ❤

[@baltschoolofdance]

Oh my goodness Danny! Thank you so much for this video! I am DEFINITELY trying this. My orchids and other houseplants are over my indoor water garden that has fish so I don’t like to spray. This is perfect-definitely going to try.

[@majagrabrijan8197]

This sticks from Substral are the best!!! We use them in Slovenia for thrips attack so well known insekticide in our country 😉

[@roslynclifford5983]

Thanks for your advice Danny. I have a few little Sarcs that I just bought which have some small flower buds forming. I'll keep an eye on them. I do understand your emotions around your orchids. We look after them so much and to have a pest infestation just before flowering would be most upsetting for me too! All the best with your lovelies.

[@Christins8818]

I have thrips too suddenly. I think it's the weather because I find them on my sunglasses all the time being outside. They ate my new leaves 😢 I have tried the mineral oil but I see some still. I will try the sticks if I can get them. Thank you for the video ❤

[@Orquideascristy]

I know how it feels. Im fighting it now. I’m using alcohol and cleaning them real good. Hopefully i can do it. I only have around 30 orchids. Fingers crossed.

[@anndriggers6660]

Alcohol worked for me. Just try not to put the plant under bright light directly following spraying the alcohol. Also water really well first so the orchids don't soak up the alcohol. Good luck 🤞

[@Orquideascristy]

@@anndriggers6660 Thank you. 🌹❤️

[@denisedavis5267]

I’m sorry, I hadn’t finished the video, so I got my answers!!

[@orchidquest]

I'm so glad the thrips seem to be under control! If it works, contact Bumblebee and let her know what you did. I think she has given up, and it breaks my heart because her orchids brought her so much joy before thrips. What was the main ingredient in the sticks you use?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, it's acetamiprid 😊

[@sannekemartha7737]

Thanks very much for this video !!

[@Familyacoustick]

Indahnya tanaman hias. Begitu tertata rapih

[@sannekemartha7737]

thanks very much for this video !!

[@thecowman6807]

Careo is based on Acetamiprid afaik. It's a system insecticide, the newcomer to the now mostly banned imidacloprid.

[@Tarkarys]

Hi there! I got the Laser 240 SC 4ml from Secret Garden, but the instructions aren't very clear on dilution. Can you help and tell in how much water you diluted a 4ml stick for spraying? Thank you so much for your videos, greetings from Portugal!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, the 4 ml stick should be diluted in 8 litres of water ☺️

[@Tarkarys]

@@MissOrchidGirl Thank you so much!

[@EllyGps-yq5eq]

Anyone know where I can get these strips in the UK atm? The internet including Amazon is coming up blank/sold out everywhere. Grateful for your help!!! xxxx

[@traceyeglin9036]

Thank you Danny for all your lovely vicios . I have just purchased my first Bellina and today found all my 3 leaves all nibble off at the stem . I’m so upset is this thrip damage. It has no leaves left if I take care of it could it produce a kieci.

[@reifen]

I used Corteva Tracer 24 sc one aplication on plants and soil and gone

[@denisedavis5267]

I only got part of the symptoms from the video. I now know what caused a few buds to die off like that. But I still don’t know what pest is causing the small bumps on the leaves, or the white cloudy looking spots on the leaves.

[@costinhoria9377]

I Wonder if this works on mealy bugs

[@isatumohamedallieu3100]

Can I use it on aloe Vera plant even if it doesn’t have parasites

[@anadanaya]

Hi MOG, do these pesticides treat also scale? I had to through away a couple of cat'S due to scale (no DYI worked). Thank you :) PS: is go to put a face on a voice that I know and was my guide on my start up with orchids. From the bottom of my heart THANK you.

[@jimmygadson7404]

Ufff thrips are demons in pest form. It’s managed to almost kill my whole collection. My Thai constellation, philodendron everything and one and my orchids were just destroyed. I tried everything and in the end used pesticides. It made a huge difference I didn’t want to but for my sanity it has helped and worked. I agree it has to be sustainable otherwise. What’s the point 😅

[@jomo9454]

If nothing else will work you'll need something that eats thrips. I recently had a problem with mealybugs that came in on a plant I won in a raffle. I use insecticidal soap but it seems to damage the root tips a little. I saw a mealybug destroyer a couple weeks ago and I was glad I don't use systemic insecticides. I have also seen pseudoscorpions and three insect-eating lizards live around the orchids (not pets, they just walked in one day). If you can grow outdoors or in some sort of screened area natural predators may not be able to eradicate all pests completely but they reduce the populations and make them slower to spread so they're easier to spot treat and the lower numbers do less damage to the plants. I've never had much trouble from thrips though, and I don't know what if anything eats them. Something has to, maybe predatory mites or baby spiders?

[@terrilewis9298]

I cannot find the Substral you used on your video, Amazon doesn't have it! What else can I use?

[@MarilynMore31]

I’m in the US and these two products are not available anywhere. 😞

[@denisedavis5267]

I couldn’t see in the video what thrip damage looks like. Are bumpy leaves a symptom? The white spots on the leaves? And what else. Please help!

[@foppaa91]

Did you try any of Koppert predatory mites (e.g. Swirski Ulti-Mite, Thripex-Plus)? They worked wonders on my infested lemon trees :)

[@liselavigne8842]

Can you tell me where do you get does lilac pots (please )in the back of you...thank you !!!

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, I find them locally and I live in Cyprus, so I doubt this helps, but Ikea has nice deco pots generally 😊

[@liselavigne8842]

Thank you

[@capblap]

What do we do with Cattleyas?

[@mstrshkbrnnn1999]

I absolutely hate thrips. I’ve been dealing w them for over a year now and they wiped out a huge chunk of my plant collection. They killed a lot of my aroids

[@WinterlandOrchids]

Those sticks are based on acetamiprid - a neonicotinoid, not pyrethrins.

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Correct 👍

[@bthyme]

Since these sticks include fertilizer, how do they affect your fertilizing routine?

[@juanli36]

Hello, I have a question about insect and pest control spray for orchid. I have this white bugs for months that I can’t get rid of. Do you have recommendations on what brand and website link on the spray product I shall get to spray on bugs?

[@toushifalam1475]

Can I rub hand-sanitizer (contains ethanol and isopropyl alcohol) on Vanda's leaves and roots for curing any type of infection or yellowing leaves?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, no I would not do that! All it will do is damage your plant.

[@toushifalam1475]

@@MissOrchidGirl should I spray 3% hydrogen peroxide all over the plant directly?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

No, if there is nothing to treat, then no need to treat as prevention 😊 if there is an issue always find the source, never a good idea to spray 10 solutions on the entire orchid in hopes something will produce a miracle. For any issue just search using the search bar, I have many videos that can help!

[@toushifalam1475]

@@MissOrchidGirl thanks a lot

[@isatumohamedallieu3100]

After putting the stick can I water the plant on the same day

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Yep! 😊

[@isatumohamedallieu3100]

@@MissOrchidGirl thank very much

[@deniseferguson9608]

Please post the link for the product from Amazon

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, it's better for you to search for it on the Amazon store in your country 😊

[@deniseferguson9608]

What exactly do you mean by “grazing” what does it look like?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Pause at 04:42 you'll see 😋

[@kasumshirazee9443]

how do you detect a thrips infection?

[@MissOrchidGirl]

Hi, you see the damage 💀

[@familhagaudir8561]

Thrips are near-impossible to eliminate from a collection without a systemic insecticide. Pyrethrin is a contact insecticide. It dosen't work well against thrips, mealybugs, scalebugs, etc. There are lines of these pests that have high pyrethrin resistance. Pyrethrin works well against common aphids and spidermites, though. Sadly, the human and pet-safe neonicotinoid systemic insecticides that work well on thrips are banned in many countries because when used outside, they also kill good bugs like bees. Why is it banned as a small-container format for indoor plants? Because we are ruled by idiots driven by greenwashing ideology first and foremost.

[@cropperson5583]

Thrips are the worst. Then you have scales and mealybugs