Something is eating our violets.

Put some dishwashing soap, like Dawn, in a spray bottle with some water and spray them with that. The soap breaks the surface tension of the water so that it doesn't bead up on the insect's body. With no surface tension, the water enters the "breather" holes and suffocates the little buggers. It doesn't hurt the plants.
 
SLK001 said:
Put some dishwashing soap, like Dawn, in a spray bottle with some water and spray them with that. The soap breaks the surface tension of the water so that it doesn't bead up on the insect's body. With no surface tension, the water enters the "breather" holes and suffocates the little buggers. It doesn't hurt the plants.
Click to expand...
You don't want a real strong soap solution for that. Soap also can remove the protective waxes on plant leaves, which will make them susceptible to dehydration. Many "organic" herbicides are strong soap solutions. Like ammonium nonanoate. Nonanoate and Caprylate are interchangeable names, depends on who's making it. Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are used for this as well. The latter two used to be very common in things like laundry soap and shampoo. They have fallen out of favor because many people developed dermatitis when exposed to sulfate based detergents.

I tried ALS for a DIY herbicide but didn't find it particularly effective. A combination of ALS and white vinegar was better, but still nowhere as deadly as glyfosate.

This type of herbicide is non-selective so don't use it for weeds in your lawn!
 
homebrewed said:
You don't want a real strong soap solution for that. Soap also can remove the protective waxes on plant leaves, which will make them susceptible to dehydration. Many "organic" herbicides are strong soap solutions. Like ammonium nonanoate. Nonanoate and Caprylate are interchangeable names, depends on who's making it. Ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are used for this as well. The latter two used to be very common in things like laundry soap and shampoo. They have fallen out of favor because many people developed dermatitis when exposed to sulfate based detergents.

I tried ALS for a DIY herbicide but didn't find it particularly effective. A combination of ALS and white vinegar was better, but still nowhere as deadly as glyfosate.

This type of herbicide is non-selective so don't use it for weeds in your lawn!
Click to expand...
homebrewed,
We are heading up your way next week.
We found a great fishing spot near Prospect. The spot is in Fairwell Bend.
The Rogue river is a beautiful river. This area must be way upstream as it's more like a creek.
The lava tubes and the scenery make this a special spot.
Don't worry, we'll be leaving after four days :)
I will consume some of your state's cold water trout though.
 
Janderso said:
homebrewed,
We are heading up your way next week.
We found a great fishing spot near Prospect. The spot is in Fairwell Bend.
The Rogue river is a beautiful river. This area must be way upstream as it's more like a creek.
The lava tubes and the scenery make this a special spot.
Don't worry, we'll be leaving after four days :)
I will consume some of your state's cold water trout though.
Click to expand...
We are very familiar with that area. And agree, it really is a beautiful river. There's a spot on the river between Prospect and Union Creek where the entire Rogue river flows underground through a lava tube, perhaps that's what you're referring to?

Enjoy a slice of huckleberry pie while you're there! I'm sure you will :). And I hope you have some good luck fishing.

Factoid, the source of the Rogue is a large spring located in the Crater Lake national park. Boundary Springs. There's a hiking trail to see it. Not much elevation gain/loss but it does take a bit of time to get there. One time along the trail we saw a large herd of elk on the other side of the river.
 
homebrewed said:
We are very familiar with that area. And agree, it really is a beautiful river. There's a spot on the river between Prospect and Union Creek where the entire Rogue river flows underground through a lava tube, perhaps that's what you're referring to?

Enjoy a slice of huckleberry pie while you're there! I'm sure you will :). And I hope you have some good luck fishing.

Factoid, the source of the Rogue is a large spring located in the Crater Lake national park. Boundary Springs. There's a hiking trail to see it. Not much elevation gain/loss but it does take a bit of time to get there. One time along the trail we saw a large herd of elk on the other side of the river.
Click to expand...
A friend of mine was flagged down back when he was a teenager, he's 75 now. A 7 year old boy fell into the river and got sucked into one of the lava tubes. The family was frantic for a rope. He had one in his truck, helped the father try to find the boy with no luck.
He has nightmares of the incident.
Can you imagine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top