I treat my plants for pests as soon as they appear. Sometimes i lose a plant, sometimes the plant recovers, but may get again in the future, sometimes it becomes immune to the pest...

Usually pests are a summer thing, like scale, aphids and mealybugs....

In winter, your main problem would be fungi, and the remedy for that is less water and better soil...

MIke, what do you use?

My collection has been mercifully free of pests for the last 17 years, but should one appear I would immediately treat it. But I don´t treat for pests merely as a precaution.

I once had an invasion of mealy bug and scale, and once that's happens it can destroy some of my most valuable plants. I had to throw away dozens of them, and since I have taken precautions, never again. Once a mealy bug always mealy problems all winter long, not the risk I am willing to take anymore.

I refuse to run the risk of ever getting any on my collection again and have them wiped out. I have too many plants to even miss a problem on just one. To me, the risk is no longer worth it. I take no chances anymore. Just like bad teeth, I won't wait to take care of my teeth until I get a a cavity or a rotted tooth. Precaution has always been something I adhere to. Like renting a car with insurance. It gives me great peace of mind when bringing them back in like driving a rental knowing that no matter what happens, I'm covered.

Hey Jeff, I spray all mine with Fish Emulsion all summer long which usuallyis the only thing needed. Neptune's Harvest in particular.

Then I use 8 pest control for everything that I might of missed before they come in. So far so good.

Mike

Weird, I put my plants out in the winter. Lol

Nil. you had to rub that in my face..lol. One could only wish ! Hoping all is well on your side of the pond. I'm thinking it's still hot there? Getting chilly here now. Depressing. Friday in the only day above 75 and I will be sitting on the beach before I bring many plants inside..))

Mike, two questions:

Does this mean you would rather not get any plants from any of us until next year? I was going to send you some. I haven't had bugs from outdoors to indoors in the past, but I can't guarantee. Mine are all above the ground in pots outside in some way or another (steps, shelf, etc.)

Do you spray that in the soil or just on the plants? Does it muck up the leaves of plants with farina (powdery stuff)?

I just got some Bonide a couple of weeks ago, so I have the same thing as you, except with pyrethrin. I had a bug in a pot of cactus seeds in the basement that I got from someone somewhere else on the internet (nobody from here).

Humph, when I first got into succulents, mid-80's, I had terrible problems with bugs in my plants. Since then, I have had none, and I do nothing, I guess I am not stressing my plants like I used to. I've always thought that poisons were only when necessary, not about convience.

Rob, you make a good point buddy@! BUt I am so scared to have anything happen to my plants again, that safety for me is a must. For years I didn't have bugs either with the use of anything, then a mealy bug problem came out of no where, actually very tramatizing. With pests, it's a game of Russian Roulette and I got tired of it the year I lost almost everything. Root mealy in particular is the worst pest anyone can get. They hit you by surprise, and usually when you discover them, half your plants are dead and the problem no longer managable. Very disgusting. It's what made me almost give up with succulents and killed half of my Hoya plants. But I will say lucky you, and those that never treat. I just hope it stays that way)) By the way, I will be texting you soon. Been a lot going on with my family. What are you going to do with the Brugs I sent you for winter? Talk soon))

Jeff, I have a problem with ordering them from vendors not friends here. I have never recieved one infested from a person here and I think it's because we here are so careful about our plants. We tend to treat them better, they are more healthy, and less prone to pests as Rob suggested. I don't have a problem at all buddy.)

Hey Nancy!! What's up Chat soon

Mike

I don't treat when going in for the winter, but I do quarantine new additions for a few weeks. Probably not long enough but quarantine is a hassle.

Sometimes I bring plants to my office so they are away from my collection, just in case.

No new additions really during winter here because it's too cold for shipping. I pretty much don't go to nurseries anymore and think that has helped significantly.

Back with the Garden Safe products I use...

-Nancy

Nancy, GREAT stuff. That's what I use if a problem comes up and let me tell you it works better than anything I have ever used and safe too)

My guys live outside all year - they just go into cold frames for 3 months to keep them dry. All new arrivals are quarantined at the same time as they are acclimatised to Mediterranean conditions. Most of my new plants come from Germany and the nurseries there don´t ship in mid winter - frosty.

Spanish fly, it's almost that time to start thinking about putting yours in cold rooms. Crazy right? Where does time go. I have enjoyed many of your picture through this past summer.)

Well, mine are all up on my flat roof and sprayed for the last time. Please no one get me wrong, I am not a huge fan of using chemicals on anything at all except my succulents and only sprayed in a limited area when they are all confined. This is why I am a huge user of fish emulsion which does a fantastic job on all my plants unless I miss one here or there which always happens. This chemical spray is a back up since I refuse to loose anymore come January or February and only to be caught of guard.

For touch ups, or pop up issues if one should arise , that is where the Safer Soaps come in handy which I keep a constant supply of.

Mike

Mike, one question that might have gotten lost, if you don't mind: Does spraying mess up the farina (powdery stuff) on Echeverias, Pachyphytums, etc.?

I don't use any treatments when I bring them all in, but of course I do a thorough search for pesky pests. Thankfully, I haven't had to deal with an infestation yet.

Jeff, how are you going to send anything to me without my address unless you were just kidding? Ha That was very kind of you to even offer.

No, it's the reason why I use that one in particular. It does no harm to any of my plants sprayed as often as I want no matter what time of day.

I refuse to use anything oil based since that destroys much. Safers Soap that Nancy uses along with I also is a great product that harms nothing if you get a spot problem.

Mike))

Mesembs, that's the problem. Insects lay eggs that no one can see hidden in crevices of the plants, spins, and roots which usually hatch some where into the middle of winter. Notice the most extreme time for anyone to start showing signs of pest damage is at that time, not now.

I know that spraying now does not only kill the insects themselves that we can not see, but those of the next generation about to lay eggs for the ones to survive brought into our nice warm environments.

Mike, I'll message you again and get your address. I'm not ready to send quite yet. You may remember you like the Sedeveria 'Jet Beads' of mine that I said I would send.

So, spraying a mixture of water and pesticide doesn't mess with the farina? Do you use rain water? I've messed up so many of my plants from not watering carefully outdoors with tap water. Really ticked me off. Rain was no problem.

Nil, I do the same haha. Everything just burns in the summer and I don't want to lose any more plants. I would have already brought mine outside but it's going to be raining for a week (not to mention the 99% humidity all day).