Anyone have more info on Neonicotinoids

[Eric Paul]

So apparently some of the small flowers I purchased from Home Depot, and planted, are treated with systemic pesticides. I'm not pleased about this at all. Anyone have any idea how long these pesticides last? Essentially, when will they become diluted enough to not be potent to the bees and butterflies that visit in my garden?

 

[ChanellG]

I've been told it dissipates over time in the rain, but unless you're buying from a small local nursery that raises plants in a greenhouse, you're going to encounter some amount of chemical intervention because it's the only way to completely manage pests on such a large scale.

Would you have bought those same plants if they had come with insect eggs? Two women came into the store the other day excited and looking for a butterfly habitat for the green caterpillars they found on their greens. The pretty butterflies they were looking forward to don't feed on the plant they found these worms on. They were about to breed a garden pest!

On the flip side, I know someone who refused to buy milkweed with cats on it because of the hornworms that had been eating her peppers and tomatoes. She's since calmed down about monarchs and swallowtails, lol.

 

[Eric Paul]

I've been told it dissipates over time in the rain, but unless you're buying from a small local nursery that raises plants in a greenhouse, you're going to encounter some amount of chemical intervention because it's the only way to completely manage pests on such a large scale.

Would you have bought those same plants if they had come with insect eggs? Two women came into the store the other day excited and looking for a butterfly habitat for the green caterpillars they found on their greens. The pretty butterflies they were looking forward to don't feed on the plant they found these worms on. They were about to breed a garden pest!

On the flip side, I know someone who refused to buy milkweed with cats on it because of the hornworms that had been eating her peppers and tomatoes. She's since calmed down about monarchs and swallowtails, lol.

Thanks ChanellG for your response. To answer your question...No, I would have passed on the plants because Neonicotinoids are a systemic pesticide, making them much more difficult to get rid of. They also have the ability to spread to other, surrounding plants, if they treated the soil. I'm hoping that as the plant grows, and water runs through the plant, roots, and soil, it will eventually dissipate to the point where it's no longer harmful. My garden was built intentionally to provide breeding grounds for many species of butterflies....so I need to be careful about pesticides making their way into the garden

 

[ChanellG]

...I would have passed on the plants because Neonicotinoids are a systemic pesticide, making them much more difficult to get rid of. They also have the ability to spread to other, surrounding plants, if they treated the soil....

If you're worried about it getting into the soil, you could isolate the plants in a large container and plant sunflower next to them. They are supposed to be really good for removing toxins.

 

[ChanellG]

So now that you have me curious - I have recently purchased plants that are edible, but not necessarily pesticide free (who knows how the grower treated them?), and your question had me wondering if I would encounter health issues if I ate them. I decided to do some reading and this is what I came up with:

Independent studies show that the photodegradationhalf-life time of most neonicotinoids is around 34 days when exposed to sunlight. However, it might take up to 1,386 days (3.8 years) for these compounds to degrade in the absence of sunlight and micro-organism activity.

 

[Eric Paul]

So now that you have me curious - I have recently purchased plants that are edible, but not necessarily pesticide free (who knows how the grower treated them?), and your question had me wondering if I would encounter health issues if I ate them. I decided to do some reading and this is what I came up with:

Independent studies show that the photodegradationhalf-life time of most neonicotinoids is around 34 days when exposed to sunlight. However, it might take up to 1,386 days (3.8 years) for these compounds to degrade in the absence of sunlight and micro-organism activity.

Yah, I would definitely stay away from eating any fruit or vegetables treated with pesticides. Lowes supplies seeds that are pesticide free (yes, seeds can be coated with pesticides). I forget the name of the supplier, but they're labeled ORGANIC. Can't miss them. Here's a good resource on systemic pesticides, which have become the staple for most growers: http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/systemic-pesticides-zmaz10onzraw.aspx

Most traditional pesticides are applied to the surface of the plant. This is why the sunlight AND water has a direct effect on the chemical ingredients. Both help to dissipate the pesticides fairly quickly. But when the pesticides are inside of the plant, including roots, stems, leaves, and even nectar, you can't just wash it off or hope the Sun breaks down its chemical composition. So, the only thing you can do is wait. It took my Tropical Milkweed about one full season (1 year) here in Florida to outgrow the system pesticides (dilution due to growth and watering soil).

 

[Eric Paul]

So now that you have me curious - I have recently purchased plants that are edible, but not necessarily pesticide free (who knows how the grower treated them?), and your question had me wondering if I would encounter health issues if I ate them. I decided to do some reading and this is what I came up with:

Independent studies show that the photodegradationhalf-life time of most neonicotinoids is around 34 days when exposed to sunlight. However, it might take up to 1,386 days (3.8 years) for these compounds to degrade in the absence of sunlight and micro-organism activity.

ChanellG - I just read this article on CNN and thought of our conversation. Even though this pesticide isn't allowed for use in the US, at one point it was...which is why I always stay away from this stuff. http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/06/us/virgin-islands-resort-pesticide/index.html

 

[ChanellG]

...So, the only thing you can do is wait. It took my Tropical Milkweed about one full season (1 year) here in Florida to outgrow the system pesticides (dilution due to growth and watering soil).

I'm satisfied (for now) with waiting for a while before using the purslane just in case, though I may look into the matter further with the grower. I'm sure they have to be aware that thousands of people in the world consider it a food plant.

How do you know it took a full season with the milkweed?

 

[Eric Paul]

I'm satisfied (for now) with waiting for a while before using the purslane just in case, though I may look into the matter further with the grower. I'm sure they have to be aware that thousands of people in the world consider it a food plant.

How do you know it took a full season with the milkweed?

Observation only. It's when the caterpillars and aphids stopped dying after consuming the plant

 

[ChanellG]

Observation only. It's when the caterpillars and aphids stopped dying after consuming the plant

Wow. What a rough way to find out.