I have a couple brugs that the spider mites seem to LOVE. To save myself the frustration of trying to keep them mite free. I think I'm going to toss them. Any last minute advice before they go meet my compost pile? Thanks, Kristi
Thoughts on spider mites
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Oh Kell, what we all do without your sense of humor?
Will pray here!
If you have any flying insect spray, try spraying up under the leaves and up towards the ceiling, over center of plants. Have to keep after them, as they are like fleas, keep laying eggs and hatching out. I kept them under control all winter inside, didn't lose too many from spraying so what do you have to lose? It's worth a try. Don't spray directly on your plant, try to stay back a little ways. Good luck!
Kristi, I'm with you. If they are going to cause me pain fighting the mites all the time on them, I'll get rid of them. I'd rather have the ones that don't require constant spraying. If they are named and really great, I might try to give the bugs a run for their money though.
So, which ones are more bug resistant?
I have the most trouble with some of the Candidas. I don't know if it is the fuzzy leaves or what, but the mites really like them. I had to toss my double white Candida last year because I just could NOT get rid of the mites.
I battled a WUFI, (White Unidentified Flying Insect), all spring until I finally was able to get the brugs outside. I couldn't decide if they were white flies or spider mites, as I got different opinions from several people and I'm yet a novice at all this. Does anyone have good pictures for figuring this out? I searched and searched and am still baffled. The bugs I had were like white specks on the plants and when I would spray them they sort of fly for a bit and settle back on the plant. Now that I've got them outside I can't find any more.
Joan, that would be white flies. Spider mites don't fly that I know of and if they did, you wouldn't be able to see them. They aren't white anyway.
I am convincing myself to toss my CDWs also this winter. I love it but I am sick of the spidermites. I rather have the dropped skirt one anyway! I think, I still have not seen it.
I bought a new magnifying glass, i am dying to find out if i really have spider mites.
Kristi, think about where they might move to if you ditch the plants. you could run out of brugs if the mites hop to different plants as you are digging them up.
I use Avid, no mites. I alternate with Kelthane to keep them from becoming resistant.
I keep meaning to ask Brugie for the 20th time where she bought hers. I think she found it cheaper. I ask, she tells then I do not order and promptly forget!
I know I dont know much here, but I have to wonder if arlene has a point? I might have to try moving the plant to see if the location has something to do with the mites as well,*good breeding conditions?*--since I hate the thought of losing a brug I might dig up the plant--treat it --replant and then go back and treat the former home --you might shake them? I also tried planting french marigolds around my bruglings--doesnt seem to help with the hoppers tho:( just a thought?--cheryl
Arlene, you have a point. It's only two or three that are really hit bad. The others (knock on wood) don't seem to be bothered. I'm going to look into avid. I know it's expensive, but it might be worth my piece of mind.
Lenes x candida dw got spitermites and we stripped all the large leaves and small side shots leaving ony the smaller top leaves and sprayed with insectsoap against mites. After two treatments with a weeks interval it seem to be cured.
Kristi and Cheryl, I've heard that hosing the plants down every day will help get rid of mites and white flies. i think that is part of why MaVie's program works. i don't know if i have mites in places or maybe i hurt the leaves with pesticides. i did think i saw a little red bug the other day, it moved fast and i wondered if it was a red spider mite.
i sprayed the brugs down with peters special mixed with murphys oil soap Sunday. gonna spray them with hydrogen peroxide today or tomorrow.
There is something wonderful about shovel pruning a brug though.....lol.... there is one i can do without, lol.....
Gloria, i know i have gotten rid of white flies on brugs with the flying bug spray.
It really DOES work, might have a few burnt leaves, if you spray too hard close up, but if Kristi is throwing the plant away, what is there to lose? It's worth a try!
Arlene can you see them with the magnifyig glass? One of the best investments I've made for my brugs is a pocket microscope. You can see the mites & their eggs, plain as day. It magnifies 30x and uses 2 double AA batteries to run a little light bulb inside. It's worth the $10 investment... you can catch the mites before they become a big problem.
Gloria- I'd forgot about your method. I'll give it a try.
poppysue, i just saw some eggs with the magnifying glass, but i want a pocket microscope like yours! do you know what kind of store would sell them?
This is where you can get it at the same price I got mine. I wouldn't recommend the place mine came from. I had to get PayPal involved to get the shipment.
http://www.rosemania.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page9.html
This is expensive, but by splitting the cost and sharing with someone else, it makes it easier to swallow when you write the check.
I bought the microscope online with one of the garden sites. Not sure which one... I was buying something else at the time. It's listed on this one for $9.95 http://www.hydro-gardens.com/other_ipm_control_measures.htm#30Xmicroscope Some of the hydroponic places would have it too.
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/tas30xpocmic.html
i found this one 4.99 don't know how much shipping is, 30X with 6 telescope? I really want it now, lol... might try to find one local but i bet the kinds of stores that sell them would be expensive...
That's it. $4.99 is a great price. Stores that carry science stuff might have them???
Sue, that is like yours? i'll order it! thanks
I'd love it, If that is it isn't illegal that is, to have a co op for avid maybe get a big bottle and disperse it in smaller bottles to others, and split the cost because people say it is the best and doesn't take much at all but I just can't afford the 100.00 out of my pocket at one time, my Hubby would have a heart attack, Since it would be his pockets LOL any thoughts on this?
springsong- I have my mom checking to see what price she can get it for. She cleans a farm supply building. This place orders all the chemicals for the farmers in her area. Hopefully they can get it for me cheaper- or at cost. If not, I'm going to order from the link Brugie sent. I doubt my husband will notice- he's away for the next month. Plus I handle all the bills, LOL. He doesn't know whats coming or going. Although he does notice when I buy new plants. Go figure.
Springsong you CAN NOT ship pesticides thru the mail, only UPS or FedX and then only if the original bottle is NOT OPENED and you have the proper paperwork. I think that's why it's not already been done.
I have a friend who puts things that get spidermites in the shade and mists them every day. Mites don't do well in shady humid spots, they prefer dry sunny areas.
I had a dreadful problem with red spider mites last year. I have decided it might have been because some of the Brugs were under the covered part of the patio, and too near the hot dry air from the A/C exhaust. Might be better to have them out in the open where they get rained on.
Okay, Thanks for the information I thought it had to be something with the mailing why no one had done it
I should have said that I shared with a close friend. Acutally two of them. Rootdoctor took some home when he was here. This stuff only mixes 1/4 teaspoon to one gallon of water, so it will last for a long time if it doesn't go bad and I know nothing about that. When I started figuring up how much I spent each year on products that didn't work, this was not much more.
so most farmers would have access to Avid? does it have a generic name or maybe a big fat long fancy name? I live right in the middle of farm ville-------and I have quite a few farmer friends? hmmmmmmm? perhaps this free babysitting thing might work to my advantage? cheryl
Abamectin also known as Avermectin B1 and MK-936. Trade names include Affirm, Agri-Mek, Avid, Dynamec, Vertimec and Zephyr.
wow Kell thanks for your trouble---so many names I had to print it all out. cheryl
so sorry Cala---have no clue why I typed Kell--been weed eating all evening and my mind is still vibrating I guess... lol
playsndirt, please don't eat the brugs!
LOL, Candyman!
I was going back to see what Kell had written!