Learner questions

[Kimberley82h]

So I just have 2 quick ones I'd like to ask,

On house plants and such I use a neem oil as a pesticide, as is natural, but is this
1 - safe to use on bonsai?
2 - sufficient to protect them?
This link is to the oil I have http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Organic-N...078?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item51cb596b9e

My other question, rooting hormone, is this very useful, should I consider using this when re potting and such as I never have used yet but it is sold near me and I wondered if beneficial for me to buy?

Thanks a bunch, I know these are likely quite silly basic questions.

kim.

 

[Cypress187]

I only use pesticide when needed, and if it's organic i think it's safe to even soak the bonsai in it (i wouldn't recommend that btw). I also used rooting hormone but that was on a yamadori which had almost no roots, regular normal repotting it isn't needed for hormone i think.

 

[M. Frary]

I have never had the need for need oil so no opinion there.
Rooting hormone is used in propogation techniques such as layering and striking cuttings. It can also be used on the cut ends of roots after being dug out of the ground on large roots that have been cut off.

 

[Kimberley82h]

Thanks a bunch both I am nowhere near the level of layering and such so I think maybe I don't need that then.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I've used neem oil. It's usually a teaspoon or so mixed with a drop of dish soap in a spray bottle. Didn't bother my ficus, fukien tea (which people say are sensitive to pesticides), or bougainvillea. I haven't used it on any of my other trees, but I wouldn't worry much about it.

 

[f1pt4]

I've used neem on all of my trees (except portucalra afra and jades as they seem to be immune to most pests, except root rot, but that's another topic). Use warm water when mixing in your neem or else it will separate. A drop or two of a gentle dish soap also helps if added to the bottle. Shake well, and shake your bottle as you apply. I've applied twice a week for 3 weeks on my trees when they came inside for winter growing under lights as I noticed aphids and mealy bugs. In three weeks pests were gone, trees were and still are healthy.

If you mist your trees daily, or they are exposed to rain, the neem will wash off, so you might need to apply an extra time if that is the case.

If you have fungus gnats, I've used Tanlin Nilnat which is a hydroponic supplement. One or two drops in 1 liter of water and applied twice in two weeks fixed that problem.

I've heard people use a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water and soap to battle insects. I've never tried, but I hear it works as well.

 

[jk_lewis]

Houseplant pesticides will be safe for most bonsai. Be careful on maples, however.

You only use rooting hormone when you are trying to root a cutting or create an air layer. If used on an alreay rooted plnat the hormone actually inhibits root growth for a while.

 

[Kimberley82h]

Great pointers there thank you for that, I will try it on a few and perhaps leave off the maple just to play safe. Thanks again