How to get rid of indigenous thrips for good?
Need an effective treatment against indigenous thrips ? Here's our step-by-step guide to eliminate them without toxic products in indoor plants or small greenhouses.
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You will need :
•Scissors / Pruners
•Plastic bags
•Sprayer
•Black soap
•Basin
•Cloth / Fine brush
Natural predators :
•Green lacewings
•Bulk cucumeris
•Nematodes for indigenous thrips
•Stratiolaelaps
•Cucumeris sachets (optional)
•Stratiolaelaps (optional)
You will need :
•Scissors / Pruners
•Plastic bags
•Sprayer
•Black soap
•Basin
•Cloth / Fine brush
Natural predators :
•Orius insidiosus
•Bulk cucumeris
•Nematodes for indigenous thrips
•Stratiolaelaps
•Cucumeris sachets (optional)
•Stratiolaelaps (optional)
Preparation
Cut off damaged leaves
Damaged leaves and flowers usually harbor thrips eggs. If possible, cut them off.
Remove debris
Remove dead leaves and other debris that may interfere with the treatment.
Wrap the pot
Wrap the pot in a plastic bag to protect the root ball during the treatment.
Cleaning
(Normal)
Prepare a work space
Prepare a work space that can get wet; ideally outside, in the sink or in the bathtub.
Adjust the water
Use the strongest stream of water possible without damaging the plant. (hose, faucet, shower head, etc.).
Wash the leaves and stems
Generously spray all leaves and stems. Cover all angles in several passes.
Cleaning
(Non-washable plants)
Prepare the basin
Prepare a basin of black soap solution. Dissolve five tablespoons per liter of warm water.
Clean the foliage and stems
Clean all the leaves and stems by scrubbing them with the brush or soaked cloth.
Rinse the plant
Rinse the plant with water to wash away any thrips that have been dislodged.
Drying
Let the plant dry
Wait for the leaves to be completely dry before introducing predators.
First watering
Introduce the nematodes
Introduce the first part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Introduce the stratiolaelaps
Distribute the bulk stratiolaelaps directly on the soil of all plants.
Introduce the lacewings
Install the lacewing strips in infested plants.
Introduce the bulk cucumeris
Distribute the bulk cucumeris in infested plants using small containers.
Introduce the cucumeris sachets
(optional)Install the cucumeris sachets in non-infested plants.
Second watering
Introduce the nematodes
At the next watering, introduce the second part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Third watering
Introduce the nematodes
At the next watering, introduce the third part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Fourth watering
Introduce the nematodes
At the next watering, introduce the fourth part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Introduce the stratiolaelaps
Distribute the bulk stratiolaelaps directly on the soil of all plants.
Introduce the lacewings
Install the lacewing strips in infested plants.
Introduce the bulk cucumeris
Distribute the bulk cucumeris in infested plants using small containers.
Introduce the cucumeris sachets
(optional)Install the cucumeris sachets in non-infested plants.
Monitoring and prevention
Monitor
Monitor for at least eight weeks. If new signs of thrips appear, do another cleaning.
Prevent
Once thrips are eradicated, continue monitoring. We strongly recommend continuing with stratiolaelaps and cucumeris sachets.
Preparation
Cut off damaged leaves
Damaged leaves and flowers usually harbor thrips eggs. If possible, cut them off.
Remove debris
Remove dead leaves and other debris that may interfere with the treatment.
Wrap the pot
If treating a potted plant, wrap the pot in a plastic bag to protect the root ball during treatment.
Cleaning
(Normal)
Prepare a work space
Prepare a work space that can get wet; ideally outside, in the sink or in the bathtub.
Adjust the water
Use the strongest stream of water possible without damaging the plant. (hose, faucet, shower head, etc.).
Wash the leaves and stems
Generously spray all leaves and stems. Cover all angles in several passes.
Cleaning
(Non-washable plants)
Prepare the basin
Prepare a basin of black soap solution. Dissolve five tablespoons per liter of warm water.
Wash the leaves and stems
Clean all the leaves and stems by scrubbing them with the brush or soaked cloth.
Rinse the plant
Rinse the plant with water to wash away any thrips that have been dislodged.
Drying
Let the plant dry
Wait for the leaves to be completely dry before introducing predators.
First watering
Introduce the nematodes
Introduce the first part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Introduce the stratiolaelaps
Distribute the bulk stratiolaelaps directly on the soil of all plants.
Introduce the orius
Distribute the orius directly on the leaves of infested plants.
Introduce the bulk cucumeris
Distribute the bulk cucumeris in infested plants using small containers.
Introduce the cucumeris sachets
(optional)Install the cucumeris sachets in non-infested plants.
Second watering
Introduce the nematodes
At the next watering, introduce the second part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Third watering
Introduce the nematodes
At the next watering, introduce the third part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Fourth watering
Introduce the nematodes
At the next watering, introduce the fourth part of the nematodes into the infested plants.
Introduce the stratiolaelaps
Distribute the bulk stratiolaelaps directly on the soil of all plants.
Introduce the orius
Distribute the orius directly on the leaves of infested plants.
Introduce the bulk cucumeris
Distribute the bulk cucumeris in infested plants using small containers.
Introduce the cucumeris sachets
(optional)Install the cucumeris sachets in non-infested plants.
Monitoring and prevention
Monitor
Monitor for at least eight weeks. If new signs of thrips appear, do another cleaning.
Prevent
Once thrips are eradicated, continue monitoring. We strongly recommend continuing with stratiolaelaps and cucumeris sachets.
Predators
What quantity of lacewings do I need ?
Use one strip per single plant, per shelf, or per square meter of grouped plants. To calculate order quantities, click here
What quantity of cucumeris sachets do I need ?
Use one sachet per single plant, per shelf, or per square meter of grouped plants. To calculate order quantities, click here
What quantity of bulk cucumeris do I need ?
Use approximately one teaspoon (75 individuals) for an average plant in an 8-inch pot. To calculate order quantities, click here.
What quantity of orius do I need ?
Use approximately half a teaspoon (10 individuals) for an average plant in an 8-inch pot. To calculate order quantities, click here.
What quantity of stratiolaelaps do I need ?
Use approximately two teaspoons (250 individuals) for an average plant in an 8-inch pot. To calculate order quantities, click here.
How do I introduce the natural predators ?
The usage instructions may vary by product. Consult the product page for details.
Treatment
Should I replace my plant's substrate?
We do not recommend replacing potting soil. Removing the indigenous thrips pupae in the substrate offers little benefit compared to the stress caused to the plant.
Should I use diatomaceous earth?
The effectiveness of diatomaceous earth is not lengthy enough to affect tropical thrips over a full life cycle. It will also be harmful to predators.
What should I do if my plants cannot be cleaned?
If you cannot clean with water or black soap, it will be harder to treat your tropical thrips. As a last resort, you can use black soap as a foliar spray and double the quantities of predators.
What should I do if I still have indigenous thrips after this treatment?
Tropical thrips remaining in all the plants are a sign of insufficient cleaning. On the other hand, if thrips only persist on certain plants, consider discarding the problem plants or cleaning them every five days.