Question
QUESTION: Hi Wayne King,

What are the differences between systemic vs. non-systemic pesticides?

Thanks,
Nwe Lay

ANSWER: A systemic pesticide is one that is absorbed into the tissues of the plant and kills insects as they feed on the plant sap.  The other type of pesticide is called a contact pesticide in which the insecticide must make contact with the insect and either kills by absorption into the pest or blocks the air tubules (ie spicules) through which the insect breathes.

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QUESTION: Then how about systemic vs. non-systemic fungicides coz I bought one which is non-systemic?

Answer
Essentially, fungicides are nonsystemic. To quote a scientist from a local plant pathology lab: "Fungicides are not a curative and are best used periodically as a preventative. The only positive curative for fungal issues is to discard all infected material immediately upon positive diagnosis".  This means that you must cut away the infected material and seal the open wound with a fungicide such as sulfur. I have found that spraying leaves periodically with a fungicide may prevent them from a fungus by killing an spores that attempt to germinate.