We go through this EVERY year! :)

Every year we have BUGS & CRITTERS we have to deal with while the Brugs & Brug cuttings are tucked away!!

Thought this might be an informative thread!

Alot of people use different things for different pests!

Spider mites come to mind! I hate the little critters! lol!

I use Bayer 2 in 1! I've also used Neem oil! Some people use Murphy's Oil! Some use Forbid - but wow, very expensive! I've even used Dawn dishwashing liquid! :)

What do you use??

And if it's something that will REALLY take care of the spider mites - what's the ratio? One tablespoon per gallon?? How often do you use it? Etc, etc!

Let's hear some GOOD thoughts & ideas!

Mike

'Peanut'



This message was edited Oct 27, 2009 11:36 AM

Mike, Peanut is beautiful. I love that pic.

Pest!!!!! that is a subject I try not to think about until I have them to deal with. Everyone has different ways of dealing with them. I am fortunate to have mine in the greenhouse and keep the temps cool enough that I do not have to worry about mites until spring. Then I leave them up to mother nature to take care of them. Spring showers keep them at bay until all of the hungry lady bugs and such come out. Unless they get out of control then I use Avid. That is only after I have them out of the greenhouse. Please do not use this chemical or any other spray in an enclosed area. Like your home!!!!

For anyone that is carrying the plants in their home wash the plant with warm water and dish liquid before bringing them in. Cuttings that you bring in whether it is from your garden or a friends garden, need to be washed also. The warm water and soap will not damage the cutting. This helps to prevent bringing in any pest and their eggs.

I feel of the underside of the leaves, stem, and stalk once or twice a week. They should feel smooth, if they have a gritty feeling then you probably have a few mites. Mites will feel like tiny grains of sand. I just wash them away with soapy water. By the time you can see the damage that mites cause you have a severe infestation.

Since I grow a lot of my own veggies and fruit I have to try to proctect my precious little honey bees. So that is why I use mostly water and soap.

I do not know if this helps anyone or not. But for mite control I find this works.

Janice

I found that if you cut the brugs way back, and don't have leaves, there's no problem with spider mites. Of course, mine are overwintered in my garage, so they pretty much go dormant. I've also learned that if you do cut them way back, they grow like gangbusters in the spring.
Hope that helps.

Hmmm. i get mites that go on all year and i think that it decreases the number of blooms but i dont really start to notice until late summer. I don't use any pesticides in my yard. I cant wipe down all the leaves of this out door plant, too many. I love the peachy pink blooms but are certain brugs more susceptible to mites? I've got brug versicolor. I'm thinking of taking it out and replacing it with a different variety if i there are species that are mite resistant. I don't really want to take it out. i love it.

Wonderearth, I've noticed that some are more susceptible than others and it usually the ones I love most. Are you against using Neem as well? I live so far out of town that my Brugs don't usually suffer from spidermites, but when they do find my Brugs, I've been able to get rid of them using Neem.

If I have them in the house Should I cut them back ?? there only about 3 feet high right now and no leaves I think they got to cold out side but there getting new leaves on them now
Gloria

What is neem?

Neem oil comes from a tree. It has a variety of uses, but here it is mainly used as an organic pestcide. It is safe to use around pets and humans. It is a contact pesticide, meaning it has to come in contact with the pest you are trying to kill. So if you spray when beneficial insects are around, it will kill them also, but you can pick times to spray when they aren't around. The one aspect I like about using neem is that insects don't build a resistance to it. Here in Texas I have to be careful when I spray because it can burn the leaves in hot weather, but that shouldn't be much of a problem in Santa Cruz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil

Gloria, if you have room for your Brugs as they are, don't cut them back. While it gets you more cuttings , the orginal mother plant will have to start going through the vegetative stage of growth all over again delaying the formation of the all important "Y".

Wonderearth, if your brug is outside and you notice mites you do not have to wipe every leaf. Just spray the underside of the leaves with the water hose two or three times a week. Mites are easier to control if you find them before you can see the damage.

Could you picture trying to wash this big baby down. I just stand under it and spray it with the hose.
Janice

beautiful! I tried that one year and i don't think i was consistent enough maybe if i start earlier. Has anyone tried rigging up a mini sprayer from the drip system pointing up to try to get the under sides of the leaves? I'm looking for a lazy method as i sometimes can't get out in the yard for a week.