AusBonsai

Does anyone have any experience with the use of a diluted mix (40:1) of Lime Sulphur on Azaleas for the control of pest and fungal problems?

I have never tried it, as I have been told to avoid lime sulphur with Azaleas. I too am keen to hear any experience?

I've not had many pest problems with Azaleas, fungal is another story though...

I don’t have experience with azaleas per say but i do spray every tree i own with lime sulphur in winter with no ill effects. I cant remember if i had seen azaleas sprayed in japan over winter or not. I know most other species were sprayed.

Hope that helps.

joe.

No experience but I have always been told, "azaleas hate lime"

Interesting.

We called two well known local growers of azaleas as Bonsai and both said they have avoided Lime Sulphur on Azaleas but never actually tried it.

A well respected bonsai nursery man says yes no problem spraying with Lime sulphur at this time of year and no need to wash off the spray in any hurry. Avoid wetting the soil with it.

Another one said no.

I have been trying to call a certain person in WA that grows satsuki azalea but as yet no answer.

The manufacturer (or the person that answered the phone today) said do not spray on anything with leaves or else.....

I would call that a full range of opinions.

Grant

My thoughts are that lime sulfur is for treating problems that lie dormant on trees such as deciduas (one day I will learn to spell) fruit trees... Azaleas don't like lime (having said that, I"ve seen some pretty healthy azaleas growing in 2 ft of ash from a fireplace... (50 yr old azalea, in 50 yrs worth of ash.,..) (yes I dug it up) Personally there are plenty of other types of pest/fungal control out there designed for azaleas/camelias and other acid loving evergreen crops.

white oil? for instance??

paddles wrote:My thoughts are that lime sulfur is for treating problems that lie dormant on trees such as deciduous (one day I will learn to spell) fruit trees... Azaleas don't like lime (having said that, I've seen some pretty healthy azaleas growing in 2 ft of ash from a fireplace... (50 yr old azalea, in 50 yrs worth of ash.,..) (yes I dug it up) Personally there are plenty of other types of pest/fungal control out there designed for azaleas/camellias and other acid loving evergreen crops.

white oil? for instance??

I would not used white oil on any Bonsai, it covers the stomata that leaves breath though. I have seen it Kill an Olive and a Sergeant's juniper, Pest oil is better as it is less likely to cause the same problems.

I have never use Lime sulphur on Azaleas, I have used copper based sprays to great affect.
Also a systemic insecticide work well to on them.

Pup

Hi all,

I also never use White(winter) Oil for the same reason as Pup. I do use Pest oil on a semi regular basis with confidor.

I just got off the phone with AR in WA and he says Yes no problem with Lime Sulphur as long as it is a weak solution. He says in WA he would not use it past the end of July whereas in Canberra he would think the end of August would be the cut off.(He used to live in Melbourne and for many years in England).

The label lists 10ml in 1 ltr as their weak dilution but for other purposes.

This is why it is important sometimes to ask around and get a variety of advice and most importantly experience from other Bonsai growers; not just general gardening etc. Also it is site specific so check your local people.

I will keep asking others for more info and other input welcome.

Grant

I just looked up the details of yates lime sulphur and learned that it has a ph of between 10.5 and 11.5.
7 is considered neutral and azaleas like acidic conditions 6 or less.
When diluted you would expect the alkalinity to be greatly reduced but I imagine prolonged usage would cause a build up.
Regular re-potting would be sensible for those who use it.

Hi all,

Just a follow up to this post.

I did spray the trees in the collection with Lime Sulphur, including the Satsuki azalea, at the rate of 30ml in 10 ltr of water.

I must admit I slightly chickened out and only gave the Azalea a light spray; not a drenching. I then lightly rinsed it off about 4 hours later.

Result was absolutely no harm to the Azalea and I will be a bit braver next year.

There were one or two trees that had a bit of residue on them for the next few weeks so I will go lighter on them next year. Acacia, Red pine for example

Grant

NBPCA wrote:Does anyone have any experience with the use of a diluted mix (40:1) of Lime Sulphur on Azaleas for the cost of termite treatment and fungal problems?

Hello NBPCA,
I was using Lime Sulphur for past 2 years.
Do not apply Lime Sulphur during growing period to Apricots, Peaches or other Sulfur sensitive plants. Do not use on Delicious or Cox’s Orange Pippin apples. Do not apply when freezing weather is expected or during abnormally hot periods.

Thank you for your comments Mike12345.

Kind regards
Shannon Young

To satisfy curiosity, wouldn't it be beneficial to buy an "El cheapo" Azalea and spray it to see what happens first?

Anyone know a reliable pest control in local area to exterminate ants?

Even now in the winter we have LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of ants. Small ones, tiny ones, and large ones.
Powder and spray simply does not work good enough. They avoid it and find other holes to enter the house.

obara66 wrote:Anyone know a reliable pest control in local area to exterminate ants?

Even now in the winter we have LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of ants. Small ones, tiny ones, and large ones.
Powder and spray simply does not work good enough. They avoid it and find other holes to enter the house.

I got some of the mortein traps a couple of weeks ago. These are a little white plastic case with the poison inside. The ants think it's good and take it back to the nest, but only as long as you position the traps in their line of site otherwise they will not go out of their way to it. After a week or two the nest I tried it on seemed to be gone. The poison from memory is mixed with two different sugars or something to make it seem like food. Packaging states it will be taken by the workers through the nest and even kill the queen.

I've only done it once so can't be conclusive, should be worth a shot but.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

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