Im losing the battle against spider mites - Page 2

snc · 12-07-2010, 10:43 AM

never had tried it with ethynol as I do not have any around the house.

natej740 · 12-07-2010, 12:00 PM

Yeah the picture in my gallery was mealy bugs. That was from this summer...Im dealing with spider mites now. I can see them all over my plants they are so small you really cant see them till they move. They loved my colocasia "black magic" it was about 2 foot tall but all the leaves withered up and its still tryin to shoot out small leaves but they get quickly eatin by these little ******! I will try spraying down with soapy water with a touch of olive oil and wiping the leaves and see if they get any better.

snc · 12-07-2010, 12:11 PM

my concoction took care of the spider mites too

The Hollyberry Lady · 12-07-2010, 12:27 PM

Some really great tips and recipes, you guys! Thanks.

I find that a lot of the problem comes in because people usually wait until there's an out of control infestation before doing something about it or even discovering there's a problem at all.

Then they think they just have to spray a few times with some kind of insecticide or soap spray and that they'll be done with the problem forevermore!

Keeping your plants mite-free is truly an ongoing process and if you let your guard down even once, the little buggers will be sure to return.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

This expression means that is is better to try to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise.

I don't wait until there's a problem, I just keep my plants showered all the time so that mites never have a chance to buildup their population and over-take my plants. I never have to bother with mixes and sprays anymore.

If you're gonna grow bananas inside, you may just have to accept that they will require regular showers and misting...even and most especially when they have no bug problems at all because this will keep them clean and prevent infestation from ever taking place.

Once your plant is overrun with pests, it is very difficult to get rid of them and sometimes even impossible, before it means the death of your plant. Preventative measures are the key, and never allowing them the chance to take over your plant in the first place!

Happy pest-free growing, Everybody!

: )

eric27 · 12-07-2010, 01:28 PM

My plants get thrown in the shower too! That really knocks them off! Between the shower and the sink the mites don't stand a chance. In fact after that I don't see any for weeks, if at all. I just did a few last night as a preventive measure. It only takes one of them. Plus it helps to give them a boost of humidity for a bit. I notice the dry air tends to yellow the leaves a bit, even without mites.

Nicolas Naranja · 12-07-2010, 02:37 PM

My boss who got a PhD working with mites told me that you want to hit plants with soap spray about every 3 days because it only kills the adults and doesn't kill the eggs, but that after about 12 days you would have reduced the number sufficiently not to have much of a problem.

The Hollyberry Lady · 12-07-2010, 04:13 PM

What your boss told you is exactly correct, Nick. The eggs are always hatching and mites multiply like crazy.

Good you added this bit of information.

: )

blownz281 · 12-08-2010, 08:15 AM

I would cut all the leaves off your plants and then wash the p-stems real good.

sandy0225 · 12-08-2010, 09:43 AM

Cut off all the leaves that are really covered. Mix up your shampoo/oil spray in warm water. 2T cooking oil, 2T suave coconut (or your fave scent) shampoo in a gallon of warm water. Shake it up real well. Spray the crap out of what's left of your plant, until it's dripping wet with the mixture all over. Do that every 3-4 days until the new leaves are growing out clean. Once a week, rinse the leaves off with warm water if you can physically get your plant to a place to do that. If you can't, then use a wet rag and wipe off the plants as well as you can, every couple of weeks. Should take care of the problem, but it's not going to work overnight. In the meantime, get the humidity up around your plants, that will help prevent them from coming back. but it won't stop them by itself.

Jamie p · 12-08-2010, 10:12 PM

A swiffer duster works really well too!! The little devils really stick to it!!

wxman · 12-09-2010, 02:42 AM

I keep my humidity at 55% in my house. Zero mite problems on my bananas and palms.

sunfish · 12-09-2010, 08:17 AM

Pests: Twospotted Spider Mite

CookieCows · 12-09-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie p

A swiffer duster works really well too!! The little devils really stick to it!!

Hey very cool spider mite hint!!

CookieCows · 12-09-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

Pests: Twospotted Spider Mite

I'm so glad we can't see them close up like that! They're really nasty looking!

12-07-2010, 10:43 AM	#21 (permalink)
snc snc's Photo Gallery Location: wilmington nc Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 145 BananaBucks : 46,847 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 130 Times in 58 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites never had tried it with ethynol as I do not have any around the house.

12-07-2010, 12:00 PM	#22 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 193,036 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites Yeah the picture in my gallery was mealy bugs. That was from this summer...Im dealing with spider mites now. I can see them all over my plants they are so small you really cant see them till they move. They loved my colocasia "black magic" it was about 2 foot tall but all the leaves withered up and its still tryin to shoot out small leaves but they get quickly eatin by these little ******! I will try spraying down with soapy water with a touch of olive oil and wiping the leaves and see if they get any better.

12-07-2010, 12:11 PM	#23 (permalink)
snc snc's Photo Gallery Location: wilmington nc Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 145 BananaBucks : 46,847 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 130 Times in 58 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites my concoction took care of the spider mites too

12-07-2010, 12:27 PM	#24 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,298,660 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites Some really great tips and recipes, you guys! Thanks. I find that a lot of the problem comes in because people usually wait until there's an out of control infestation before doing something about it or even discovering there's a problem at all. Then they think they just have to spray a few times with some kind of insecticide or soap spray and that they'll be done with the problem forevermore! Keeping your plants mite-free is truly an ongoing process and if you let your guard down even once, the little buggers will be sure to return. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" This expression means that is is better to try to avoid problems in the first place, rather than trying to fix them once they arise. I don't wait until there's a problem, I just keep my plants showered all the time so that mites never have a chance to buildup their population and over-take my plants. I never have to bother with mixes and sprays anymore. If you're gonna grow bananas inside, you may just have to accept that they will require regular showers and misting...even and most especially when they have no bug problems at all because this will keep them clean and prevent infestation from ever taking place. Once your plant is overrun with pests, it is very difficult to get rid of them and sometimes even impossible, before it means the death of your plant. Preventative measures are the key, and never allowing them the chance to take over your plant in the first place! Happy pest-free growing, Everybody! : ) Last edited by The Hollyberry Lady : 12-07-2010 at 12:43 PM. Reason: damn spelling!!!

12-07-2010, 01:28 PM	#25 (permalink)
eric27 eric27's Photo Gallery Location: Milwaukee, WI Zone: 5b Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 248 BananaBucks : 79,338 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 313 Times Was Thanked 253 Times in 105 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites My plants get thrown in the shower too! That really knocks them off! Between the shower and the sink the mites don't stand a chance. In fact after that I don't see any for weeks, if at all. I just did a few last night as a preventive measure. It only takes one of them. Plus it helps to give them a boost of humidity for a bit. I notice the dry air tends to yellow the leaves a bit, even without mites. Last edited by eric27 : 12-07-2010 at 04:08 PM.

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12-07-2010, 02:37 PM	#26 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 460,943 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,663 Times in 1,562 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites My boss who got a PhD working with mites told me that you want to hit plants with soap spray about every 3 days because it only kills the adults and doesn't kill the eggs, but that after about 12 days you would have reduced the number sufficiently not to have much of a problem. __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

12-07-2010, 04:13 PM	#27 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,298,660 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites What your boss told you is exactly correct, Nick. The eggs are always hatching and mites multiply like crazy. Good you added this bit of information. : )

12-08-2010, 08:15 AM	#28 (permalink)
blownz281 Location: Coastal NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b coastal Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,373 BananaBucks : 350,316 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 440 Times Was Thanked 756 Times in 534 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 14 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites I would cut all the leaves off your plants and then wash the p-stems real good.

12-08-2010, 09:43 AM	#29 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 355,201 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites Cut off all the leaves that are really covered. Mix up your shampoo/oil spray in warm water. 2T cooking oil, 2T suave coconut (or your fave scent) shampoo in a gallon of warm water. Shake it up real well. Spray the crap out of what's left of your plant, until it's dripping wet with the mixture all over. Do that every 3-4 days until the new leaves are growing out clean. Once a week, rinse the leaves off with warm water if you can physically get your plant to a place to do that. If you can't, then use a wet rag and wipe off the plants as well as you can, every couple of weeks. Should take care of the problem, but it's not going to work overnight. In the meantime, get the humidity up around your plants, that will help prevent them from coming back. but it won't stop them by itself. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

12-08-2010, 10:12 PM	#30 (permalink)
Jamie p Location: Fair Grove Missouri Zone: zone 6/7 Name: Musamania Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 172 BananaBucks : 52,543 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 106 Times Was Thanked 240 Times in 107 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 12 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites A swiffer duster works really well too!! The little devils really stick to it!!

12-09-2010, 02:42 AM	#31 (permalink)
wxman Location: Saukville, WI Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Tim Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 98,803 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 186 Times in 60 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites I keep my humidity at 55% in my house. Zero mite problems on my bananas and palms.

12-09-2010, 08:17 AM	#32 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 948,273 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Im losing the battle against spider mites Pests: Twospotted Spider Mite

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