Does Merit 75 WP go bad?

[Aksala]

Saw a few root aphid flyers tonight in my garden and have decided the organic route isn't working on these hellspawn.

I bought a can of Merit 75 WP a few years back (3?) when I thought I had root aphids but it was just fungus gnats.

Everything I've seen says the expiration is 2 years but am curious if any of you have used imidacloprid past the expiration date and if it works still?

Would hate to have to buy a new bottle when I never even opened the original.

 

[Mikell]

More of a bump than anything, but I would contact the manufacturer.

 

[Aksala]

It lists 2 years...so that's what they will say I'm sure. I'm assuming it will still work especially since it's never been opened...i'm gonna give it a shot.

 

[theLumberjack]

I really dont like the idea of using imidacloprid on weed.... but I assure you it is still good. probably good for another 5 plus years.

 

[Aksala]

Why? Just curious...

 

[theLumberjack]

a systemic insecticide that has a really long half life. Between 200-300 days in the soil. It is also not labeled for food intended to consume. I know from experience that this chemical has residual insect control in 80ft trees for 1-3 years!(yes of course at a higher rate)

I also have read studies that using the leaves of treated trees in your compost will disrupt the micro ecosystem not allowing the proper population of microbes and decomposers to develop.

so pretty much I am sure you'd be creating a product that still has imidacloprid in it. so you would be smoking a neurotoxin. All be it in the neonicotinoid family.... so if you already smoke cigarettes its probably not much worse.

 

[fonzee]

There are mini nematodes that you water to the soil and they predate on the flies. Fairly cheap and works quite well with repeat applications.
Totally residue-free.

 

[Aksala]

I've done nematodes...they don't completely get rid of the root aphids. You have to keep using them every month or so.

Also..theLumberjack..

I knew what your answer would be...I just wanted to see you climb up on that high horse again.

Trust me..the imid is a last ditch effort...if I do it at all. There is a reason the bottle has never even been opened yet.

 

[fonzee]

I've done nematodes...they don't completely get rid of the root aphids. You have to keep using them every month or so.

Also..theLumberjack..

I knew what your answer would be...I just wanted to see you climb up on that high horse again.

Trust me..the imid is a last ditch effort...if I do it at all. There is a reason the bottle has never even been opened yet.

I put a teaspoon nematodes per 50L water once a week for 2 months or so for full eradication.
The immediate effect is quite good but some follow up application is surely needed. Luckily these nematodes are cheap around here :-D

 

[Aksala]

I was thinking about culturing my own because of how expensive it is to get them delivered. I haven't found any locally but maybe I need to dig further.

The few weeks/month after using the nematodes were the healthiest my plants have looked in a long time though.

I'm still holding out hope that the EZ WET SE is actually making them leave...I started seeing lots of them leaving the pots (even tiny ones that weren't close to becoming adults) like a week ago after I started using the EZ WET as a soil conditioner...and now I see barely any. A few flyers but not many crawlers. I'm gonna wait and see what happens over the next few weeks before I make a decision on the imid.

 

[fonzee]

The nematodes cost 6 euro per bag in here, and a bag will last quite a bit
I believe they have quite long shelf life too.

 

[Aksala]

With shipping I can get like 10 million nematodes for around $50-60. And those only last a few days...

I can order a bigger supply..like 25 million nematodes shipped for like $90 and those will last 3 weeks.

It sucks...I really need to find someone local I can just go get some from. If I could do that I would do it a lot just because how healthy they seem to keep everything when you use them regularly.

 

[DONAJTHEIII]

a systemic insecticide that has a really long half life. Between 200-300 days in the soil. It is also not labeled for food intended to consume. I know from experience that this chemical has residual insect control in 80ft trees for 1-3 years!(yes of course at a higher rate)

I also have read studies that using the leaves of treated trees in your compost will disrupt the micro ecosystem not allowing the proper population of microbes and decomposers to develop.

so pretty much I am sure you'd be creating a product that still has imidacloprid in it. so you would be smoking a neurotoxin. All be it in the neonicotinoid family.... so if you already smoke cigarettes its probably not much worse.

Lumberjack dont they sell a bayers veggie and citrus product and much of the agricultural produce is definitely sprayed with stuff like it if your buying non organic food products which im sure much of us are as groceries these days are expensive as fuck. I dont get why the marijuana industry is so anal about lab testing when food industries arent. the consumer should have the choice whether or not the product they buy is organic vs non organic just like at a supermarket. I strongly believe growers should be paid more for organic products and that non organic products should be bought and sold for less like any other vegetable. This is something I dont understand at all. I think the bayers imid veggie and citrus in veg before flip is the least of your worries.


just my 2 cents and im in the med field. Americans will die from obesity before smoking a marijuana product sprayed with imid in veg. So worry about not pigging out after getting high and youll be good.


heres a little more info on imid

Is imidacloprid likely to contribute to the development of cancer?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) decided that there is no evidence that imidacloprid causes cancer based on animal studies.




Imidacloprid is a systemic, chloro-nicotinyl insecticide with soil, seed and foliar uses for the control of sucking insects including rice hoppers, aphids, thrips, whiteflies, termites, turf insects, soil insects and some beetles. It is most commonly used on rice, cereal, maize, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, fruit, cotton, hops and turf, and is especially systemic when used as a seed or soil treatment



Carcinogenic Effects

Imidacloprid is considered to be of minimal carcinogenic risk, and is thus categorized by EPA as a "Group E" carcinogen (evidence of noncarcinogenicity for humans). There were no carcinogenic effects in a 2-year carcinogenicity study in rats fed up to 1,800 ppm imidacloprid (2).



Moral of the story is be responsible and use the products with care. Hope this gave people a little more background on it. im not encouraging the use but rather encouraging people to do research on products before and to then make a decision after proper research.



happy growing

 

[theLumberjack]

don,

I do think spraying is better than applying to soil. I dont care what people put on their products and I agree with your stance on unless your eating all organic whats the difference. That was kind of my point with cigarettes. I apply these substances commercially not on marijuana but would if a serious problem came up.

I posted that because I knew nothing of alaska and thought it may have just been something picked up from a local shop without any research and felt other avenues should be explored first. but clearly they have been so apply away imo.