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View Full Version : What are these white things? Mites? or something else


diloretta
02-01-2009, 10:41 AM
I thought this situation was under control but apparently it is not.

I have a young potted musa basjoo that was too little to leave outdoors in Upstate New York this winter so its been living in my living room. A few weeks ago I posted here that I was having mite problems and it was suggested that I flush out the dirt in the shower - which I did 3 times - and use a soap spray and maybe an alcohol/water spray - I do that everyday. I did all that and cut off the brown leaves. The plant instantly acted better and had a new leaf and another one on the way.

I've been checking the leaves everyday since. Two of the leaves are droopy and have millions of small brown spots on the undersides http://www.victorianpride.com/basjoo/leaf.jpg and white things http://www.victorianpride.com/basjoo/whitethings.jpg. I wash those white things off everyday.

diloretta

Patty in Wisc
02-01-2009, 12:18 PM
I think those white things are aphids. If there is a way to blast the leaves with a sprayer or hose, do it. Lay the plant on it's side by K sink & spray the leaves & rub them off. Then, using about a tsp (or good squirt) of dawn dishsoap to 8 oz of HOT tap water (not boiling), spray the leaves top & bottom.

Bob
02-01-2009, 02:47 PM
Hey diloretta, I think all you can do at this point is keep doing what you're doing. The shower sprays and soap treatments will keep it going until spring. I'm pretty sure that this is very common for basjoos held in a house where the conditions are not as ideal as a humid greenhouse or the outdoors. Next year I plan on spraying any bananas I plan on overwintering this way with soap before I even bring them in. Good luck.

stumpy4700
02-01-2009, 04:02 PM
Next year I plan on spraying any bananas I plan on overwintering this way with soap before I even bring them in. Good luck.



AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caloosamusa
02-01-2009, 06:31 PM
I cannot see the detail on the white roundish objects to make a good identification. The brown spots however occur when it is cool and wet, with the leaves receiving moisture. This is what sigatoka looks like when it starts.
Do not rinse the leaves with water. Only wet the leaves when applying surfactants ( to get rid of insects) with a nutritional spray containing (CuSO4) copper sulfate to handle the leaf spot. Other than that do not wet the leaves. Maintain humidity without wetting leaves, minimize condensation on the leaf surface. Hope this helps.

Chironex
02-01-2009, 10:20 PM
They sure look to be spider mites to me.