hey yall i was wondering... how can you get rid of spidermites on heliconias. can you use malathion? if not, what are some suggested ways?
heliconia question
I don't have heliconias, but on other plants I generally just wash the undersides of the leaves off--if you repeat this several times over a week or so and mist the plant a bit in between to get the humidity up a bit I've always managed to get rid of them without chemicals. Or if you want to go the chemical route, the insecticidal soap that I keep around for emergencies lists spider mites as one of the things that it'll kill, and it would be friendlier than malathion.
ok where would i get insecticidal soap?
Neem oil is organic and readily available at Lowe's ...etc.
I get my insecticidal soap at Home Depot, Lowes, and the local hardware store (they also have a garden section). Garden Safe and Safer are two fairly common brands at least out here. Neem should kill the mites too, but I don't like the smell so I get the insecticidal soap instead. And since neem is an oil, you have to be a little careful about spraying it if it's hot and the plant's in the sun.
no it is in my mom's classroom, i'll try both!