I've been trying to keep this plant alive, but it's having a battle with spider mites. It started when I was keeping it in the bathroom during the winter. WHERE do these things come from? Like aphids, I've never seen armies of either marching across my house. ?? I thought when it got moved outside it would be better, but nooooooo. I've sprayed it with insecticidal soap, but apparently need to do it several times. Are these plants extremely prone to mites? What is the secret? I'm too embarassed to show you a pic. lol
My first and only Brugs...help me keep it alive
We have all been there, so don't be embarrassed to show your pictures. Mites are stinkers. It sometimes takes three sprayings to get them under control because the eggs are continually hatching out. I use Avid and it seems to do a good job for me when I need it. However, it is very expensive. Mites do become immune to the product you use on them, so I've read that after you use something three times, you should change to another product. Later, you can come back and use the first one again.
I guess this is a common problem with Brugs then? Thanks for the tip on changing products. I will just keep trying what I've used a few more times, then switch. ...Wow, not sure if the price I found for Avid was right, but anywhere close to that is wayyyy more than I am willing to pay.
Some brugs seem to get mites continuously. I finally got rid of my double whites because they were mite magnets. I notice some brugs can be surrounded by brugs with mites, and they never get them. Others just get covered.
If your plant is small enough, I would use Neem Oil. I have had great luck with this product. I just make sure I cover every part of it. Another product I love is the Bayer Rose fertilizer and systemic. It seems to kill mites also. Just make sure you water your brug well the day or so before you use it and do not put too much in the pot. It can really burn your brug.
Everyone seems to have their favorite way to kill them off.
Good luck and WELCOME to the brug forum.
I use hot water. Spray everyday for a week and they never came back. I also cleaned out all loose dirt on top of the pot
Kell, what ratio do you mix your Neem to water?
Hot out of your tap, Donna? Then a hand sprayer? I could never figure out how to keep the water hot for 15 minutes when people say to dunk your brug in hot water to kill them. When I tried it, the water cools down right away.
Thanks everyone. I have no idea what color this will bloom. I can barley keep the leaves on it. lol How would you dunk the plant in hot water?? I will try putting some hot water in a spray bottle then running directly outside.
I just use water from the garden hose to spray the daylights out of mine, but I think that the water is pretty cold. The hot water thing might work better, but the force of the spray seemed to dislodge the mites pretty well for me.
I just may have to try the heat, dash and spray method, to compare.
That would be a site to see, me running through my house with a spray bottle filled with hot water, LOL. Husband, kids, animals, get outta the way!
That I'm even trying to figure out the logistics proves that I am beyond addicted, and in the "crazy" stage!
Here's an idea that may work (another beer inspired plant thing)
Get a couple of those cheap coozees, push or cut the bottoms out and slide over your spray bottle. It seems the typical spray bottle is about the same size as your favorite 6oz beverage can.
I'm going to check that out when I get home.
Ok.. I am nervous now..I have what I thought was a spiderweb in my one brug. The web is stretched between the branches like an ordinary web..not flush on the leaves. Does this sound like real spider or Mite?
Jazz, look at the back of the leaves. If you have them, you can see them on the leaves. I doubt that one web going between branches is a spider mite.
I gave mine another blast of insecticidal soap today since I was next to it spraying a spittle bug. In a few days I'll do the hot water spray. Luckily my plant is in a pot on the porch, which is not a long dash from the kitchen. The cats had better move out of my way tho! lol