Uptownange

Three weeks ago my musa basjoo has 6 leaves with one still curled preparing to open. Each new leaf was 14 - 18 inches long, it was healthy and beautiful. I noticed my leaves were browning, there was white stuff on the leaves and webbing, determined I had spider mites. I purchased a neem oil based insecticide for spider mites from Lowe’s sprayed it in the evening, wiped and hosed it down the next morning. I repeated this cycle 4 days later. Despite my efforts all of my leaves browned, I could see the tiny mites (although fewer) still crawling. My leaf that was still curled was browning at the tip and in spots on the middle.

I decided to cut all the dead leaves off since they were completely brown and treat with a mixture of anti-bacterial soap, cooking oil and water. I sprayed the plant, wiped it down a few hours late and then hosed it down. After a week, it seems i have no mites (but i also have no leaves. I decided to remove the curled leaf since it was turning brown and mushy and discovered another smaller curled leaf inside also brown and mushy at the tip and then another (the one pictured) inside that.

The small pup on the side browned a little, but has continued to sprout two new leaves over the past week. Please help, I don’t know how to save my plant!

I uploaded a picture of it into my gallery

PlantHoarder

I have been fortunate in that is one area this season at least that has not been attacked.

There are possible solutions that are not organic but could be more effective against them. The little SOB's like to live underneath the leaves until the leaf curls inward and then they nest inside it.

Mixture of Neem oil and soap is one potential avenue if you want to stay semi-organic friendly. the other option its to mix an insecticidal solution with some type of natural oil (or neem oil) oil and manually brush it on, I haven't tried this one yet so i'm just spitballing.

This is most devastating to young plants, but if a tree is healthy enough to begin with it usually grows enough that thrips and mites are not a significant threat.
I grow a lot in my not very large yard and spider mites, as well as thrips are an ever present seasonal annoyance for my outdoor flora.

It is likely they are infesting neighboring plants, if you find any infested leaves burn them, don't just discard. They will overwinter in the nests they create for themselves and (and sometimes the dirt around it, then) re-emerge the next season.

cincinnana

ARG>>>>>

still got them?

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