Re: Chemical shelf life

Kitty,

I've used 7 year old Insecticidal Soap with no problem, even when I kept a
bottle of it in the greenhouse which is the worst possible environment.

Aphids have a very short life cycle, and depending on temperature, you might
have to spray every few days for a couple of weeks to get control of the
newly hatched ones. One shot will get the adults, but if they've laid a
bunch of eggs, one shot isn't going to do it. You might have just been at
the point where you were going to break the cycle anyway when you tried the
other product.

Oils can sometimes smother insect eggs so that they don't hatch, though of
course they can damage some plants that can tolerate the insecticidal soap.
And vice versa.
Daryl

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kitty Morrissy" <kmrsy@earthlink.net>
To: "Agardenchat" <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 10:54 AM
Subject: [CHAT] Chemical shelf life


> I understand that most garden chemicals have a shelf life and if not
> specifically stated, you should replace them after about  3 years.  But
> what about Insecticidal Soap?  Do its properties diminish after opening? I
> received some Echinops from a very reputible nursery that had aphids on
> them.  I didn't notice at first because I'm not particularly
> knowledgeable of the plant.  The leaves appeared to be a bit puckered,
> but I assumed that's just how they are.  They began to look a bit worse a
> few days later, I found the aphids, checked all other plants in the
> vicinity, sprayed w/ IS, but days later they were still there and now on
> a few other plants.  Sprayed IS  again.  A week later, still a problem.
> So I checked my cabinet for something else to use and came up with an
> unopened bottle of Pyola (Canola Oil & Pyrethrins)  One spray and they
> seem to be controlled so far.  I know to spray all surfaces, top and
> bottom, crotches, to check all plants near them, etc.    Is it time to
> buy a new bottle of IS? Kitty

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