These two brugs have been overwintered indoor. I've found webs of spidermites on them and treated with soapy solution spray, then spray down with strong jets of water to wash off the webs. But the leaves are all discolorated and blotchy. Could there be broadmites besides spidermites? Please advice.
Thanks.
pic. #2 of the affected leaves.
#3 pic. The molted, blochy leaves are those of the older, matured leaves, the new growth look healthy and unaffected, however. Hopefully that maybe just the damage spidermites left behind? I hope I hope, since broadmites are so much more lethal than the others. Please help!
It looks like spider mite damage to me. The damaged leaves won't recover, so it's okay to take them off the plant. I've fought so many spider mite infestations that I've lost count. Broad mite damage will show itself with curled in leaves.
Mary
I'm breathing out signs of relief! Mary, thank you, thank you. I'll take those leaves off and nurse them back to health. I don't like spidermites, but my brugs will survive! It's only broadmites that I feared. I was going to ditch them brugs if they were broadmites!
Kim
Lily, even though broadmites are not easy to get rid of.. it's possible. I strip all the leaves off and use neem. repeat spraying will usually get em. When the leaves start coming out right, you know you've beat em.
Good luck! You just got initiated iinto the brug world. LOL
Oh my, so I can't no longer call myself newbie to brugs? lol, or is this just the beginning of my internship? LOL,LOL. Thanks Joyce, I'll look into using neem oil while the weather is still mild.
Kim
I have a question about spidermites and broadmite, while we are talking about them.
If I remove all the leaves, will there still be mites living on the stems that will just migrate back to the leaves once they start growing out??
TIA
Brenda B
Brenda, my guess is yes. There will be a return of the mites. So that's the idea to eliminate their breeding ground, but also to use neem oil to smother the remaining survivors as well as eggs to ward off their returning. I deal with spidermites, although small but visible to the naked eyes. I hate the broadmite, because it's said they're microscopic in sizes and by the time one can see the damages they leave behind, the infestation is moderate in proportion. Also, it appears (to me) that they prefer certain brugs. Several of my NOID brugs never had problem with those.
Kim, I think you passed up the internship part when you started planting seeds.. lol The whole plant must be treated for either kind of mite. I gave my broadmite infested Jean Pasco the heave ho one year. I noticed the curled leaves in spring, quarantined her off away from anything else and just kept repeating with sprays and granules... by September that year, the new growth was slow to come and was curled, so I bagged them up for the garbage truck. I don't care for either mite, but if I'm declaring war, I'd rather see spider mites. LOL, I think that is right Kim, they only like the NAMED brugs.. sorry you're dealing with the varments... It's been really wet down that way lately hasn't it? (We load/unload barges in Baton Rouge). Spidermites don't like moisture (I think)... I expect to see them in my basement, yet this spring, our air is so dry up here.
Thanks for the advice on the mites. I too have them all over the new cuttings that were doing so well. I'm going to take the leaves off now. i had wondered if that was a proper approach.
Juanita
Thanks Chrissy, and B. The outdoor environment in my region is quite humid, mites problems only applied when they're indoor under gh. I'll treat those throroughly as recommended. Many, many thanks.
