Log in

View Full Version : Mites in my banana plants


luisport
01-25-2016, 03:16 PM
Hi everyone! Should i or can i spray my banana plants with cooper sulfate to desinfect them? I'm going to plant them in the ground... Thank's!

Kat2
01-25-2016, 08:25 PM
Copper sulfate might be a bit strong and might not do the trick. I'd plant then in good soil you've enriched with organic material, give them a healthy drink, make sure they're settled in and watch to see what happens. If they've been inside they may have been the only place for mites to hang out; outside may be different. If in a week or so they're still bugging your musas, I'd spray with soapy water and/or Neem. Even spraying plants with water can chase away pests. Watch again. Unless you see obvious damage err on the side of doing nothing if possible.

(Kinda OT: I keep trying to get sourdough going but am plagued with pesky slow flying "gnats" that appeared out of nowhere but seem to have guessed what I was planning which means I have to cover my mix or end up with extra black protein bits in my baked goods. I finally managed to outsmart them I think and it's cool enough now that they seem to be gone but now it's too cool to get bubbles. It's always something, isn't it?)

hybridpower
01-25-2016, 09:46 PM
I was going to say near the exactly the same thing. I've had mites indoors in potted bananas, but they disappear when moving them outdoors. I rotate potied ones outdoors periodically just for this reason (not counting the ones that I have planted outdoors as well).

luisport
01-26-2016, 04:14 AM
Thank's a lot to both! I will see if they survive outside. Thank's!

Kevin2685
01-26-2016, 09:40 AM
I always deal with mites inside during the winter mostly. It's the hot dry air and low humidity. Outside u have more humidity, natural predators etc..
I usually spray with a insecticide I like garden safe brand. Make sure you get the underside of the leaves really well and I try to get along the mid rib. Then after couple days I usually spray or wipe them down with soapy water. Also misting them with water helps with the humidity.

geissene
01-26-2016, 12:38 PM
Does anyone have any clever ways for getting the mites out of the petioles?

I spray monthly and wipe the leaves weekly but have recently found a significant amout of mites in the petioles which are hard to access on my Viente Cohol.

Thanks

Erik

Kevin2685
01-26-2016, 02:35 PM
If it's not something you are going to get fruit from a good systemic would be a way. If you go that route and it works let me know what u used. I never worry about getting in there cause I figure as I spray it gets down in there.

Kat2
01-26-2016, 03:51 PM
Spray with Neem and/or dish soap; mix some soap with Neem or use either alone. Both are considered safe for food producing plants. Neem can be used as a systemic also.

Kevin2685
01-26-2016, 04:10 PM
I am going to treat mine tomorrow with some neem oil. Never used it before but heard great things about it.

One thing about mites is you have to be persistent. After you treat them you should do couple more treatments to take care of the eggs that hatch. I sprayed mine every 3-4 days
For 3 treatments. Going to apply some neem oil then just keep spraying wiping them down with soapy water. They can get out of hand really fast. They almost killed my dwarf Orinoco last year.

Make sure after you spray them next day or 2 wipe them down so u can tell if they are going away and not just dead ones.

Kat2
01-26-2016, 04:46 PM
Neem is definitely not overnight/instant gratification. I haven't raised plants inside for several years but never had bug issues. (I "washed" my plants when I brought them inside for winter; I was either really good at scrubbing or very lucky. I suspect the latter.) Though I used it occasionally when I worked as a landscaper, Neem is new to me for personal gardening. So far it seems to be helping my bug eaten outside plants but I'm learning along with the rest of you.

Richard
01-27-2016, 12:35 AM
I like the "Green Light" brand "Fruit Tree Spray" product.