Mrs.Green wrote: ↑Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:23 am K.W; Wonderful photos as always! You seem to have hundreds of cacti, from what I can see from your photos. May I ask how you keep them reasonably free from bugs? Such a large collection placed tightly together must be heaven for all those bugs who seems to be drawn to cacti like magnets.. So how do you keep them at bay?
Good evening Mrs.Green,
thank you very much for your kind words.
Yes, I care for a few thousand plants.
Of course, with such a monoculture, pests are not far!!!
For about five years I hardly use poison.
In the past, provilactically sprayed insecticides twice a year, fortunately, that has changed.
I have very, very few pests on my plants.
I keep the plants as cold as possible in the winter.
I give as much fresh air and air movement as possible.
When I water, it's always with a shower over the plants.
AND I spend a lot of time with the plants. I check for pests a lot.
If I see something, I act immediately.
I claim no louse sits on any of my plants for more than two days.
Look, look, look is 99% of success.
When I see pests I either use poison, only locally around that plant.
Or remove mechanically. I always try to separate the plant.
It's a little more effort than "just" using poison - but there are bees, spiders, and, and, and in my collection!
Best wishes
K.W.
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