Experience with Pyrethrin

[Apex37]

I just ordered a bottle of Bonide Pyrethrin concentrate to help with aphids and spider mites this summer (my biggest problem in the garden).

I was curious other people's experience with it. Obviously since it's a concentrate I will definitely be following directions and applying after sunset to avoid leaf burn.

Any other things I should know about?

 

[Firstflush]

It is a contact killer…so if beneficials and pollinators are out take note where you are spraying.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Spider mites need an adequate treatment in the sense that you'll have to knock them down, and knock them down hard. All at once.
Otherwise they'll be resistant in a single generation. So treat with a two week interval for at least three times. That's 6 weeks.

Aphids are as good as dead with the stuff in a single hit.

If it's mixed with napthalene then avoid heat and sunlight, and do mark your spraying cannister: it's now single purpose.
If it's mixed with rapeseed oil, you can more or less safely rinse it with soap.

Keep in mind that even though pyrethrin is considered safe, it breaks down very slowly in an indoor environment and has been shown to cause certain allergies. Especially in young kids.

I cannot stress this enough: KEEP CATS AND REPTILES AWAY FROM PYRETHRINS BECAUSE THEY LACK THE BREAKDOWN ENZYMES AND IT WILL ACCUMULATE IN THE ORGANS.
I have seen the seizures, it's not a pretty death.

 

[Apex37]

It is a contact killer…so if beneficials and pollinators are out take note where you are spraying.

Definitely will! Thankfully all my actual flowering plants are pretty far from my bench and they won't be treated. All my trees in training that do flower I remove flower buds before they form because all of them are in development right now.

I wanted to try organic and thought about trying lady bugs this year, but have heard mixed results on that.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Lady bugs fly away and ants eat the larvae. If the aphids are a real issue, the ladybugs will show up on their own. Buying them is like buying a box of sparrows; once they're free, they'll go wherever they please.
But.. Having every chair in the backyard filled with dancing/jiggling ladybug puppae is a nuisance as well, trust me ;-)
They crush into orange goo.

 

[Colorado]

[QUOTE="Apex37, post: 958962, member: 35455"
I wanted to try organic and thought about trying lady bugs this year, but have heard mixed results on that.
[/QUOTE]

I have found spider mites and aphids pretty easy to control with a moderately forceful stream of water, applied daily until the pests are no longer an issue.

 

[Firstflush]

For ladybugs to work, you need a good ton of food available immediately along with cover and moisture. I have heard of a wetted bundle of tied together twigs working for cover.

 

[Apex37]

[QUOTE="Apex37, post: 958962, member: 35455"
I wanted to try organic and thought about trying lady bugs this year, but have heard mixed results on that.

I have found spider mites and aphids pretty easy to control with a moderately forceful stream of water, applied daily until the pests are no longer an issue.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks TJ, I'm going to try and be more consistent on really spraying down my trees this year as opposed to last year. Lots of growing pains in the first year of this hobby, but all of it necessary in learning.

 

[Srt8madness]

I just applied pyrethrin Sunday, it's a godsend

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Whoa…. Not so fast with running to chemicals like this….I’d recommend one first thoroughly read and follow the Safety Data Sheet. This chemical is not for the unwary. Specific Target Organ Toxicity Single Exposure 3: is no joke,

https://southernag.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Pyrethrin-sds.pdf

This stuff is nasty for much more then spider mites and aphids. it’s a good way to trash all the critters in the rhizosphere of your media….

Wear all your PPE, avoid windy days and overspray. Store safety and separately.
DSD sends

 

[Srt8madness]

It's not really a chemical, it's from the chrysanthemum.

 

[Firstflush]

I have wanted to grow mums specifically to make my own pyrethrum for a while now.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

It's not really a chemical, it's from the chrysanthemum.

Gosh…. And cyanide comes from almonds and Lima beans. It’s a hazardous chemical. Please read the SDS.

Be Safe
DSD
former Chemical Hygiene Officer

 

[Dav4]

It's not really a chemical, it's from the chrysanthemum.

Right, and THC isn’t a chemical either because it comes from pot plants

 

[Srt8madness]

Right, and THC isn’t a chemical either because it comes from pot plants

Something like that

Gosh…. And cyanide comes from almonds and Lima beans. It’s a hazardous chemical. Please read the SDS.

Be Safe
DSD
former Chemical Hygiene Officer

Don't forget Ricin

I wouldn't advise spilling the concentrate (what the sds refers to) on one's skin or drink it.

Pyrethrin applied is safe up till day of harvest.

 

[Dav4]

Something like that



Don't forget Ricin

I wouldn't advise spilling the concentrate (what the sds refers to) on one's skin or drink it.

Pyrethrin applied is safe up till day of harvest.

Soooooooo…. THC is a chemical, as is pyrethrins… doesn’t mean they’re good, bad, harmful or safe… but they are chemicals.

 

[Srt8madness]

Soooooooo…. THC is a chemical, as is pyrethrins… doesn’t mean they’re good, bad, harmful or safe… but they are chemicals.

Neither are chemicals while still in the plant. Once refined they meet the technical definition, but even then not as the average person would understand a chemical.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I wouldn't advise spilling the concentrate (what the sds refers to) on one's skin or drink it.

Not hardly. You might want to read the entire SDS again.

Pyrethrin applied is safe up till day of harvest.

Safe for what? So sorry to harp. One thing I learned about working as a CHO. Folks will believe what they want to to believe. Until something happens.

Best
DSD sends

 

[Srt8madness]

Not hardly. You might want to read the entire SDS again.

Safe for what? So sorry to harp. One thing I learned about working as a CHO. Folks will believe what they want to to believe. Until something happens.

Best
DSD sends

Safe for use on plants that are harvested to be consumed...like fruits and vegetables.
That's not me making it up, take it up with Bonide and the EPA.

 

[Srt8madness]

Safe for use on plants that are harvested to be consumed...like fruits and vegetables.
That's not me making it up, take it up with Bonide and the EPA.

You could get scary with SDS of bleach, but it's just fine to use on our home surfaces. Heck you can even eat food off a counter that was cleaned with bleach, same day!