Greetings,
My Becca Lynn grew well this summer but unfortunately the spider mites seemed to think she was delicious and I never never saw a bloom. My pest control program consisted of Neem oil, Bayer systemic after the Neem does not work, and if that fails, cutting back to six nodes above the Y and removing all the leaves. I have read this is probably not the best brug for the hot and humid South. To be honest because of my health for most of 2006 my garden did not get the attention it needed only hit and miss. Even when I am in the best of health constantly messing with a plant that the bugs love is not for me. Is keeping this brug an exercise in futility? Or should it get a reprieve and another chance next year. Any suggestions or comments to help me decide whether ot not to overwinter this brug are appreciated.
Loretta
Becca Lynn Dilemma
Just based on this past summer's trials and tribulations where my brugs are concerned, I'd say concentrate your energy - not to mention time, money and effort - on those that do well for you and are reasonably well adapted to your growing environment. JMHO though. I love love love the leaves and blooms on Butterfly, but she wouldn't live without a whopping case of broad mites even when constantly treated, so OUT she went!
Becca Lynn is a pretty one, for sure, but there are others out there who will be just as pretty. Whatever you do, take care of yourself and enjoy your gardens.
Barb
I hear you, Barb. Butterfly is another one that takes extra effort here. But I am not ready to chuck it yet . I wonder if this Becca Lynn could be planted away from the others and used as a spider mite sink to keep them away from the others? HMMMM!
Loretta
I would also keep in mind that this year seemed to be a worse than normal year for mites for many people (or maybe it just seems that way because it was for me, so I paid a little more attention to the issue). Brugs that had no problems last year were covered in them this year. Becca Lynn was one of mine that didn't have mite problems this year, though. No blooms, but it takes a while for brugs to bloom for me. If your up for it, give her a try again next year. If she persists in having mite troubles - dump her.
Hate to say this, but I had NO mites this year.
I did toss Whiskers couple years back as it was a mite magnet.
My DH sprays for me every month or 6 weeks, starting in spring Avid for three times, month or so apart, then with Forbid once so far, time to bring inside, will have him spray with Forbid again. It has been 8 weeks since last sprayed. This stuff is good!
Did I read somewhere that it was $400 per bottle??
Judy
Hibiscus-I would be so happy to say no mites this year. You just don't want anybody to feel bad or get jealous, you lucky dog! LOL
I really did not have too bad of a mite problem BL, Butterfly, and to a lesser extent L'amour. Now the dog-gone grasshoppers gorged themselves on KBS in September. The mites did'nt like it but the hoppers thought it was delicious.
Carter-It was a mightily hot summer that's for sure. The garden was not near as pretty as last year but thre is always next year. I think Becca Lynn will get a reprieve for now.
Loretta
I had no mites this summer either, sure hope I can say that through the winter, Becca Lynn never bloomed for me either, and neither has Becca lynn X Burt, it hardly grew much all summer, I am down to just three plants left in the garden, I was planning to cut those today but it is raining.
The three seed pods I have on one Brug are growing but I don't know what will happen to them when I cut the brugs head off, yep gotta do it, she is 7' tall, NO side shoots just this big tall stem with an umberella of flowers on the top, I plant to cut her about in the middle and try to root her.
This message was edited Oct 11, 2006 8:53 AM
K-That's pretty, they do look like little umbrellas when shaped that way. I did have lots of blooms on some plants. The BL had buds but they were horribly deformed by the mites and were lost when I cut it back. It's strange that one brug will be decimated by bugs and the ones 6' away will be beautiful.
Another picture of the brug bed. I reckon this is why we love these things in spite of some of the problems they can have.
Oh yes,, And have you noticed that just when it's time to either bring them inside. cut them back or pitch them out they put on a fabulous show? All year you wait for something exciting and they finally do it just when you decided it isn't really worth it! humph.. it's all a plot I tell ya
Jazz, I hear ya LOUD and CLEAR
I totally agree! I need my head examined. If I put half the work into housecleaning as I do taking care of brugs, my home would "sparkle!
Judy: I bought Forbid online at Goose Gardens.com. Two 1/4 oz bottles for $42.00+ $4.55 postage. Makes 24 gallon, as you only use 1/8-1/4 tsp. per gallon. Oops, just went into their site. Says they no longer sell in small quantities as of January 2006.
This message was edited Oct 11, 2006 11:23 AM
I hear you, all the brugs had buds on them when I cut back yesterday.
Hibiscus, even if I did'nt do brugs my house would not sparkle. I hate housework and would rather work two jobs than clean house.
Hehee, me too!
Hey I tried to go to their website but it said there was an error in the store link.. do you have a working link Hibiscus?
try http://goosegardens.com/ Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
I can get to Goosegardens.. just not the store.. but thanks :)
Kell posted that she bought a fogger and Forbid gave a link to a Rose website. I went to the site and the stuff was $400. I don't think she ever posted her results. I think she said she had horrible broad and spider mites and one or more of her trees, I'm assuming a brug was 20 feet tall.
I'll find the thread but it is so long.....
Judy
My first season with brugs. and the mite problem was overwhelming. They also attacked my Dahlias and 4 new ones never bloomed. I used Neem, which was a waste of time, and several other pesticides - nothing helped. Around mid summer I broke down and ordered Forbid, but my pest problem was so advanced I didn't feel anything could save my plants. I threw away 3 of the worse brugs. and sprayed the Forbid on the remaining. I saw immediate results but the plants looked terrible. So I stripped off the larger sickly looking leaves so I would not have to look at them, and in time new leaves grew in and the plants looked good again. I followed up with my Forbid again in 2 weeks just to be sure I had gotten all of the bugs. Now that it is time to bring them in for the winter, they look great and are blooming. Lol. While the Forbid was pricey, I probably have enough for many years to come - just pray I never have another pest problem like this year. Between the bugs and the heat, it was a nasty summer for brugs. The last time I heard from Kell, her new sprayer didn't work so she was returning it for a replacement. At that time, she had not used her Forbid.
Tussee
ok..less talking more posting links! (grin)
Oh Loretta I hear you. I am so sick of mites myself. I think if you only have a couple of brugs you may escape having them so much. I know for years I never had mites when I only had a few brugs.
I hate all the spraying and feeling like my yard is a toxic dump. I always use Neem for small outbreaks but no way on big ones can you cover every leaf top and bottom of all the leaves with Neem.
Gosh Hibiscus, good for you finding that source for Forbid. I bought the 8oz for $269 I think it was. Killed me but after the terrible heat wave, the mites exploded all over the yard and I had them on everything. Last year I had read up on the fogggers so this year I bought the one from Rosemania, and I loved it. It is electric and it is a fog so it envelopes the bushes, even the ones that are so lush with foliage hitting all the leaves. The other thing that is so great is you hardly use any insecticide for the mist goes a long way.
HI LORETTA!!!!!!
Joelle!!!!! It is good to hear from you. Is it freezing up there yet? It is overcast here but the temp is about 70F so I will take it. What you been doing this past summer and I hope all is well with you. How is your mother? Hug!
Hi Kell! Forbid and a fogger sounds like a good setup. I have even looked into buying some for next summer. My problem is the pond and the fish, who are very sensitive to pesticides. A fog would probably rain a fine mist on the pond. The bluebirds have been nesting in the houses we put out two years in a row now, and I wonder if it would kill them. I guess there is always a trade off. I heard that Forbid suffocates the mites though so is it harmful to fish, mammals, and birds?
Loretta
It says to watch spray doesn't get on ponds with fish in them. If your plants are not close to fish pond, think ok to spray, as long as runoff doesn't get in water. Soon as it is dry on brug leaves, should be no problem. The fogger sounds great, but would spray too widely.
Thanks for asking, she is doing great, gets tested every 6 months and they keep coming back 'clear'! As I type it is trying to make up its mind if it is raining or snowing outside! Summer was terrific here and I grew a variety of tomatoes, and many tropicals. They are all tucked away in the GH for the next 6 months! It sure is great to 'see' you, your brugs look happy and healthy as always. How about the 'tub pond'???
WooHoo! That is great news about your Mama. I bet taht is such a relief you you and your sister. The tub pond is sitting out beside the house just catching old leaves and giving snakes a place to shed their skin. It has not been set up since we have been here but recently I designed a new area that has a spot for it. My plan is to put a lotus in it. I was kidding my husband when we replaced the toilet a few weeks ago and said I can't wait to set this by my tub and put a lotus in it. He just looked at me and shook his head and said, "You are going a little too far with this bathroom garden design stuff, first a bathtub and now a toilet." . lol I think he believed me. lol What kind of tomatoes did you grow?
Hibiscus-My plants are really close to the pond, which is in the middle of the garden. The fogger sounds great but would aerosol the Forbid everywhere, which is perfect for killing mites and other unwanted bugs. Hopefully next summer will not be so dry and I pray, not so hot.
Loretta
This was my second year with Heirlooms, too many varieties to list! I had every colour under the rainbow,a hobby is turning into quite a little business. I sold numerous plants and tons of tomatoes this year. I am exhausted, and quite happy that it is fall now. I did my fair share of canning, enough that I won't have to do any next year and can just concentrate on the harvest. I will be looking forward to seeing the TUB POND next year! The toilet... how about a birdbath! SNORT!
I was afraid the fogger would get it all over in the air too. I bought a respirator, googles and even a face mask. But I was pleasantly surprised how directed the stream was as it came out and shot up in a straight line quite a ways out and away from me. You can really direct it. It is electric so it is powerful. It really was great. I haven't seen a mite since so hopefully I won't have anymore for a long time.
Speaking of bathroom planters .........I was at a fancy nursery last week with Patricia (JerodsMom) and they had so many cute Halloween decorations. One was a bathroom sink planter!
That is too cute. I have seen lots of old pedestal sinks and thought hmmmmmm, but the toilet will have to be a passing thought. lol The price on the Forbid is pretty close to gold but I have heard it goes a long way. I imagine with lots of plants a fogger has to be the way to go or you would be constantly exposing yourself to chemicals not to mention the time and effort. My brug collection is very small so I will probably keep on with Neem oil and cutting back.
Joelle-I am going to do a veggie garden next year and was pondering the possibilty of selling some of the produce. My thoughts are leaning towards heirlooms so I may have to pick your brain about growing indeterminate tomatoes. I do have a good book that details training and pruning for optimal production.
Loretta
Don't give up on the toilet.... somewhere some place I saw a picture of one that had a collection of plants in the water tank that included some type of grass and long trailing vines which obscured the tank, then from the bowl there was another such arrangement. It was sitting in the middle of a beautiful flowerbed the plants from which obscured the pedestal. It was beautiful and I imagine a topic of more than one conversation.
You are so talanted I'm sure it would be beautiful once you had it planted. How well I remember the clawfoot bath tub you used in your garden.
Judy
lol Judy I just cannot bring myself to stick a toilet out in my yard. But they do have lots of places to plant in and good drainage. HAHAHAHAHA!
Loretta
Well put it 'round back somewhere!!! I've always wanted an "out house" new of course with plants growing out of the "holes" but Bob is too much like you. He didn't even want me to have my "tire" planter but .. it's out there full of Daylilies.
I have some crazy friends who keep carting around a for real outhouse. Every Holloween they put it in someone's yard along with all sort of other yard decorations.
Judy
An outhouse! Must be my BIL, Odus. We were talking about a pond my sister wanted he suggested an old outhouse he could get sitting at the top to hide the filter and then the water would flow out and down a water fall. That picture just did not hit me right considering what traditionally would run out gfrom under an outhouse. LOL I could go around curbing and pick up discarded toilets, I see them all the time. Then have a long line of them along my driveway with plants growing out of them HAHAHAHAHA!
Curbing (cur bing') The practice of scavenging rare and fine items sitting on the the side of the road for the trashman.
Loretta