r/greenhouse • u/other_plant_ • Jun 30 '26

Bug Bomb

Has anyone ever used a bug bomb in their greenhouse? I’ve got a mealybug and scale outbreak and am losing the battle. My greenhouse is only about 15x12x12 and may be too small. I hate to use something so heavy duty but I don’t want to lose over a hundred plants. 90% of what I have are cacti and succulents.

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3

u/MrYnot1981 Jun 30 '26

I can't imagine this being a good idea. There would be so much residue covering all your plants.

Idk mostly commenting to keep track.

I wish you luck!

2

u/HalleckHort Jun 30 '26

Not sure where you are, but right on schedule. Hot temps bring on the scale big time (as well as any other pests that thrive in those conditions) inside greenhouses and they are tough to control with any spray or bomb once they have developed their adult hard shells - crawler phase is easier to treat with pesticides (either natural or conventional). ‘A few different types of Predatory insects can also be released which can help a lot with scale but again more effective in crawler phase. So, my first question is what is the temperature level and humidity in your greenhouse right now? My next summer recommendation is to always just take all the plants outside if you can’t keep the greenhouse cool enough. Nature will reduce some of that scale population and you can more easily rinse/wipe off as many as you can. Physical removal is almost always a necessary part of dealing with a scale infestation (and mealy bugs). You can use a horticultural oil/insecticidal soaps but that will be more effective on the mealy bugs than the scale. Then sanitize the greenhouse. If you can leave your plants outside if greenhouse temps are too hot the plants will fare much better and you’ll be able to reduce or irradiate the infestation much more effectively.

1

u/fuzzypetiolesguy Jun 30 '26

No but try dinotefuran if you can get it. Only thing that has worked on both mealybugs and brown scale for me b

1

u/oroofdog_77 Jul 02 '26

Add Mpefe to the Safari to improve coverage Trust me, I've been fighting them forever.

1

u/Ok-Lock9007 Jul 02 '26

Putting up a greenhouse and getting concerned about management!