AzaMax

[chancethegardener]

Has anybody used AzaMax for insect (and also indirectly for disease) treatment? In another thread, we have been discussing about the disease that hit my plants, and next time I will start treating the plants at an early stage against insects that cause viral diseases (please correct me if my language is not accurate). Although it is OMRI-listed, Safer brand pyrethrin-based spray seems to give damage to some of my pepper plants (I used it for the aphids).

It is an expensive product but gardeners speak highly of AzaMax effectiveness. Here's a link: http://generalhydroponics.com/site/i...nance/azamax1/

[Heritage]

Chance, (great username btw - loved the movie)

Azamax would be a good first-line defense against pests and disease - I use Neem oil almost exclusively on my tomato plants. I don't know if the ingredients/carrier are any different in Azamax than in a properly diluted Neem oil with a surfactant. AzaMax seems to be very popular with the high-end, big-money crops where money is no object.

I would first try Neem oil and follow the label instructions to avoid burn. Especially the part about keeping the mixture agitated during use.

Steve

[chancethegardener]

Thanks, Heritage. I recommend you the book, too, if you haven't read it yet. I must say that the movie was an excellent adaptation which is not always the case. I am also a big fan of Peter Sellers and he worked years to get ready for the movie.

I think I will give a try to AzaMax, soon. Other than the virus that hit the tomatoes this year, I generally keep things under control in the garden so it is worth to give this product a try. I used neem oil several times in 2010 but personally I don't like cleaning the mess it leaves in the sprayer. It is very difficult to get rid of. I think AzaMax is diluted so possibly that problem is gone. Are there any other organic-based products made of neem oil and are diluted that you can recommend?

[Heritage]

Originally Posted by chancethegardener

Are there any other organic-based products made of neem oil and are diluted that you can recommend?

I use the "Green Light" brand of Neem oil - the surfactants they use seem to keep the neem oil suspended better than the dish soap recommended with the 100% Neem oil. Actually, the first time I used 100% Neem oil I didn't add any dish soap at all, and I almost threw the sprayer away after using it. What a mess! I buy the Green Light brand at one of the big box stores - I think Home Depot.

[Wi-sunflower]

While I haven't used Neem oil, one thing I would recommend when spraying any oil on your plants -- do it late in the day, at dusk if possible.

I have used some of the oils and insecticidal soaps for aphids. I would spray at dusk and then come back early in the morning and hose it down with plain water. That seems to keep the oils from burning the foliage. If it was a cloudy day, I would spray and when the leaves were dry, hose it down / off.

Of course what I was doing was as a contact for insects and you didn't need a residue. Take this info for what you will.

Carol

[chancethegardener]

I ordered a 4 oz. bottle of AzaMax from Amazon ($19.95) to spray my garden for protection against TSWV. I already lost a few of my tomato to this virus and I am very frustrated with it. Anyway, I added couple of pictures to show how the product looks. When mixed with water (second picture), it turns into a color very similar to that of BT+water. It is significantly more easier to clean it than to clean pure neem oil mix. I stopped using pure neem oil some time ago because of the difficulty involved with cleaning the sprayer.

I applied AzaMax thoroughly on each plant in the garden and will do again in couple of weeks. Instructions give different dilution options. I chose to mix 1 table spoon (~1 oz) into 1 gallon of water which means that I will be able to use the product for 2 months if I apply it every 2 weeks.

[DogsandDirt]

How is the Azamax working for you? I have some and plan to spray this week in hopes of staying (mostly) ahead of the spider mites. I also noticed Azasol, a water soluble version, is also available.

[chancethegardener]

Well, by the time I used it, it was too late for most plants; however, I have been applying it regularly and I will see how it works with my new transplants. On the other hand, other than thrip-related virus issues, so far I haven't had any other problems with regards to other pests. In addition, after I applied it on tomatoes, the virus hasn't spread to two tomato varieties: Abu Rawan and Rutgers. I am not sure if the reason is the effectiveness of AzaMax or the plants already have some resistance for diseases.

[z_willus_d]

Hi Chance/Dogs&Dirt, how are your gardens faring with the AzaMax treatment? I just purchased a 4oz pack at my local Hydro store (they matched the $20 Amazon price). I performed one good spray so far. I noticed the LeafHoppers (I have a major infestation of these guys) took no obvious offense to being covered in pools of AzaMax, but reading up on it, I don't think it's meant to "kill" on contact. It's supposed to be a more insidious solution that attacks the insects by corrupting their molting cycle, making them not want to eat (for some hormonal reason) and not want to reproduce. It seems like it could take 2-3 weeks to see any major effect from the applications. I just hope my plants can survive the onslaught until then.

I'm using 1/2 TBS per 2L application. I plan to re-apply weekly if not slightly more regular. If this works, it will be a great "organic" solution. If it fails me, it will be one of the more expensive failures. The Monterey Spinosad solution I was using before had no obvious positive effect. If this doesn't work, I'll move on to Neem, then maybe Sevin if there's anything left to save.

--naysen

[chancethegardener]

Well, what I have experienced with it is that it should be used on a regular basis since as you said it doesn't kill the insects on contact but messes with the growing cycle. My first two applications were 1 week apart from each other and everything was fine for 2 weeks after I had used it. Then for the third application, I waited more than that and ended up with worms attacking my melon plant. I used BT to deal with the worms. Also, I have an annoying population of whiteflies and I can't say AzaMax helps with whiteflies immediately either. Bottom line is that I have decided to use it on a more regular basis. Apparently, whiteflies can spread viral diseases onto tomatoes, too, but honestly my primary concern is thrips. So far, I haven't observed TSWV or any other thrip-related disease on my second batch of tomatoes. I am also using sticky papers to be on the safe side since I might end up in an asylum fighting with this stupid insect .

[z_willus_d]

Gotcha. It looks like you and I are in the same boat. When you're applying something like AzaMax that doesn't have any immediate pro/no- signals, it's very difficult to evaluate effectiveness. One is left to making wide-swath conclusions based on broad season-wide, anecdotal evidence. I guess we'll see how things end up this year. At 4oz a pack, I should have enough for another 7 applications, assuming I don't want to also spray the work garden.
-naysen

[chancethegardener]

There is one thing I forgot to mention. Same melon plants I mentioned above were also attacked by aphids and melon leaves were curling up. AzaMax did kill most aphids on the leaves.

[DogsandDirt]

My experience with Azamax pretty much mirrors Chance's. It does not provide immediate knock down, at least with mites, but after two applications the mite population hasn't gotten worse and seems to be dwindling. Overall, the mite problem isn't nearly as bad as it's been in previous years. It seems to do a very good job keeping hornworms at bay. I saw 2 very small ones yesterday while spraying, probably fairly newly hatches since we had heavy rain last week which probably washed it all off. It's a product I'll continue to use for pest prevention. I like the fact that it doesn't harm bees, too.

I also found a water soluble azadiractin spray, Azasol. Unfortunately, I didn't noticed it wasn't labeled for mites until after I bought it. Azamax, the oil-based formulation, is labeled for mites.

[chancethegardener]

Actually, I also like AzaMax when I heard about it since it is an organic solution. I think I want to believe that it can take down a wide range of insects (almost all bad guys) as it claims.
How frequently do you apply it DogsandDirt?

[DogsandDirt]

Every 7-10 days. I've been using a middle concentration, 2 Tbsp/gallon. I had mites on my rosemary and several mint plants. The rosemary I hit with a knock down product, then with Azamax a few days later. The mint only got Azamax. Both the rosemary and mint hardly have any mites now. I need to try it on my yucca to see if it will help with yucca bugs. Too bad it doesn't have anti-fungal properties.