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View Full Version : OK, so I've got mites on my indoor basjoo


diloretta
01-12-2009, 02:35 PM
OK, so I've got mites on my indoor basjoo (he was too little to leave outdoors this winter in upstate New York) and have followed suggestions for their demise - soapy water, alcohol, and cut off parts that were just too far gone.

Are the mites coming out of the dirt, and if so can I improvise a "hair net" -I'm thinking of pantyhose - stretched over the top of the dirt to keep the mites under until they die.


Diloretta:waving:

Bob
01-12-2009, 03:15 PM
Hi diloretta. You should have no trouble controlling these with insecticidal soap. Soapy water is fine as long as it's not detergent. Cutting off severly infected leaves wont hurt it (they'll probably die if infection is severe anyway)and you'll get rid of those mites before treatment.As far as the soil you might try bringing the little guy to the bathtub and flood the container a couple of times. This should help. Good luck.

damaclese
01-12-2009, 03:20 PM
the best that i ever found to ues for them is dawn dish washing detergin spray leav on over night spray with cean clear water the nexst day make sure you spray undersid of leafs as well as stems and the top of the soil and the intgher pot as well and in and around the place were the pot is seting of you have plants within 10ft of it spray them and the floor inbetwen too

diloretta
01-12-2009, 03:32 PM
Thanks - I gave it a shower in the tub 2 days ago and I will do it again today. I washed him it with Ivory dish washing detergent. I have lots of plants in the house - none near it - and it's the only one with mites. Crossed fingers.

Diloretta

Chironex
01-12-2009, 03:35 PM
To clarify Pauly's post, just a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a sprayer-full of water. mskitty suggests using Dawn dish soap, but I would imagine any ordinary dish soap would do it. I would avoid those will added fragrance, bleach, etc. Perhaps Ivory???

CookieCows
01-12-2009, 03:46 PM
The experience I've had is that no matter how well you get rid of the spider mites, if you don't keep the humidity up around the plants with either a humidifier or lots of constant misting with a spray bottle they come right back. Last year I gave up with the spray bottle and ended up putting a chair in front of my little group of plants and sat a humidifier on it and pointed it at the plants. Not too close as it comes out hot. This winter I have too many and have devoted a spare room to plants with the humidifier going like gangbusters in the middle of the room. So far, so good!

Deb

diloretta
01-12-2009, 03:52 PM
I just flooded it again. Are the little white wriggling worms that float on top what turn into mites?

The worms are small - could get maybe a half dozen or more on the head of a pin. There are lots of them. Or are they just something else that lives in the dirt?

And I thought we were supposed to keep these on the dry side - or do I keep the dirt dry and keep misting the top?

Diloretta

Chironex
01-12-2009, 03:54 PM
Those sound like some sort of larvae or nematodes. Not quite sure until I see themm but I imagine it would be difficult to photograph the little buggers.

damaclese
01-12-2009, 03:56 PM
To clarify Pauly's post, just a few drops of dishwashing liquid in a sprayer-full of water. mskitty suggests using Dawn dish soap, but I would imagine any ordinary dish soap would do it. I would avoid those will added fragrance, bleach, etc. Perhaps Ivory???yes sorry i meant just a few drops in the spray bottle its more then enough

diloretta
01-12-2009, 05:01 PM
No - can't photograph them - way too small and swimming too fast.

I googled spider mite larvae to find a picture and that's not them. So I won't worry about them.

Diloretta

Chironex
01-12-2009, 05:08 PM
Here is a good basic site for nematodes and explains their differences, etc.
Nematodes - Scoop on Soil (http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/soil/SoilBiology/nematodes.htm)

brettay
01-12-2009, 06:33 PM
It could be fungus gnat larvae in your soil.

diloretta
01-12-2009, 06:38 PM
Fungus gnat larvae looks like what I've got. Wikipedia says I should rake the soil and fluff it up to get more air exposure.

Okey dokey I'll do it but the dirt is to wet tonight.

diloretta
01-15-2009, 05:13 PM
Day three - no mites - fingers crossed.

Patty in Wisc
02-07-2009, 06:10 AM
My Dad always put newspaper over the soil in pots to kill bugs in it. Water right over the paper.
Dawn dishsoap is good (recomended by mskitty) because it is a little thicker/concentrated & will stick to leaves better.

Sodak
02-08-2009, 04:34 PM
You could always use a systemic inseciticide on your Basjoo. If you don't eat the fruit, you won't have a problem. A little will kill the fungus gnats, larvae, and any spider mites you might have. You will need to replenish the systemic every 8 weeks or so.

I used some on my indoor potted Basjoo in September and I'm still mite free for the first time ever with just one application.

diloretta
03-01-2009, 01:07 PM
A month and no more bugs:woohoonaner:

51st state
03-01-2009, 04:23 PM
good luck with that. I had a really bad infestation last fall. i tried pretty much every chemical i could throw at them, also tried diatomaceous earth and after the hardest winter in 20 years I have to report that the little bstrds are still thriving so it's time to up the ante. I've just ordered predatory mites which will be turned loose on them shortly :goteam:

diloretta
03-01-2009, 04:25 PM
Didn't use any chemicals - just soapy water with a little alcohol. Washed leaves every day for several day. Flushed out soil 3 times.

Sodak
03-01-2009, 06:43 PM
I still don't have any mites since Sep. 1st Winter ever without an infestation. Systemic works. If it doesn't, you're probably not using it right.

JFK
03-03-2009, 05:42 PM
Another really good preventive measure for all indoor plant pests is to cover the soil with stone, pumice or coarse perlite. Having a circulating air around the leaves is great for keeping them down as well. Put a fan on the plant and it will make it very difficult for them to get a foothold as it's a constant battle for them stay in one place. Obviously you have to watch humidity and wind burn while using a fan, but good air circulation is key to preventing mites.

saltydad
03-06-2009, 04:33 PM
Found this interesting piece in the Hidden Valley Hibiscus Newsletter.

DROWNING SPIDER MITES

This is our favorite method for all hibiscus growing in small-medium pots and for houseplant hibiscus. You only have to do it ONCE to kill all spider mites and their eggs. It kills every kind of spider mite, even the most microscopic ones that can hide in cracks in the bark. This method does require precision and care. You'll need a timer and a thermometer - a kitchen "candy" thermometer is perfect. If the water is too hot or you leave the plants too long, you can damage the leaves and they will all fall off after treatment. If the water is much too hot and you leave the plants much too long, you could actually kill a very young plant. But if the water is too cool or if you don't leave the plants in the water long enough, you won't dissolve the covers of the eggs and kill the growing larvae, which means the infestation will come right back.

Lay several hibiscus plants on their sides, pots and all, in a bathtub. You can put many of them close together in a single layer in the bottom of the tub.
Fill the tub with water that is 110°F (43°C). Use a thermometer to monitor the temperature. Be careful not to go above 120°F (49°C) or you will cook your plants!
Fill the tub until all the plants are covered, and weight the plants down to make sure all parts of all plants are submerged in the water. (An easy way to weight them is to cover the plants with two large towels, then to pull the two shelf racks out of your oven and lay those carefully over the top of the towels.)
Set a timer for 10 minutes. (Don't count on your ability to watch a clock! If you leave the plants in too long, you may damage the leaves badly.)
Drain out the water and stand the plants up in the tub until the excess water drains out of the pots.
Scoop any soil in the tub back into the plant pots.
Leave the plants out of bright light for a few hours to rest, then put them back where they belong. Be careful not to water until the soil dries out after this thorough soaking. Unless plants are recontaminated by exposure to another infected plant, plants should remain free of spider mites for 4-6 months or more. This method has the added advantage of leaching out any build-up of fertilizer salts in potted plants, which needs to be done once or twice a year. So it is two plant-care activities in one