Hi all of you brug people! I thought I would like to try these plants to see what it was all about, but I am ready to pitch them. I have one I was sent over a year ago, and it drops it's leaves regularly, down to a bare twig, and starts over. About the time it's looking really nice, there we go again. I suspect spider mites or some other little pest. I had read to spray it with alcohol, and when I tried that, the leaves all fell, really fast. And came back again. Now, like a glutton for punishment, I started one from seed last year, and it's following suit, however, they are in close proximity, so if this is a pest thing, that would make sense. Any suggestions?? Is this in the plant, the soil, or does it pay for me to try to salvage these guys?? Thanks for helping the brug-handicapped! Legit
Leaves dropping from my brugs
Those little buggers cause me more trouble than weather, etc. Alcohol dried my plants and leaves too much. Try liquid dishwashing soap/peroxide. They get in the dirt, lay eggs and start all over again.. I would try washing cuttings under very warm water, couple times, then make sure you have new soil. Hope this helps. Good luck.
You might try something that will kill mites. Now that plants are inside, it would be harder to use Insecticidal soap. Another thing you might try is setting the plant, pot and all, in the shower and giving it a good bath. Wrap a plastic bag over the top of the soil so it doesn't get too wet. I would then let it dry and spray with a miticide of some kind. Then, do it on a regular basis for about three weeks. Spray the soil too. You should see improvement right away. If you have a WalMart near you, they carry products that work on mites. You would just have to read the labels. I use Avid, Mavrik, and Enstar for my spraying but they usually have to be ordered and are more expensive.
Sorry I talk so much.
Thanks for the suggestions, I will try them all. From the gorgeous pictures I see here from time to time, I really would like to carry these guys through. Is it that bad with all varieties, or did I just come up with a real susceptible one that was infested with these?? Thanks, Legit
Leaf drop occurs with cold weather too. Just bringing one inside for the winter can cause them to lose leaves. It may be a combination of problems. I've not had a problem with mites during cool weather, but that doesn't mean it can't happen. Mites generally like it dry and hot, however I believe it might be the opposite with cyclamen mites but someone with knowledge of them would have to tell you how the brugs act when they are infected with them. It doesn't seem to happen often that people get cyclamen mites, but I've heard that they are harder to get rid of.