Prometheus

Those buggers finally moved into my dining (I mean, winter banana) room. I was surprised I went as long as I did without an infestation. I thought the humidifier I have constantly running would deter them (they hate humidity, right?). Well, the first plant they attacked was my 3 1/2 ft. IC (Blue Java), even though it's still the healthiest looking plant in the room.

Here's the really odd thing though. My IC is directly above the humidifier! Does that make sense. Many of the other nanners don't have any mites yet. Do they just love the IC, or have I always been wrong about the humidity thing? Does this make sense to anybody? Just perplexed/wondering. They got their first dose of soap yesterday. Go away you little arachnid parasites!

--Brad

fishoifc

Can I reuse the soil that use to contain plants with mites? are the eggs or mites in the soil waiting for me to plant something.

LilRaverBoi

Pretty sure the eggs hatch at some pre-determined amount of time (on the order of days or weeks) and if the parents get killed before laying more eggs, then you're good. I really don't think the eggs can just wait till they sense the presence of a plant in the vicinity...that just doesn't make sense to me at all. So I'd say you're good.

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Ivanov_Kuznetsov

I have lots of experience with spider mites, aphids, thrips/chili thrips, and white flies. Out here, due to rainy seasons, soapy water sprays rarely work. Malathion is relatively short lived in the environment and should be used to kill things away from edible plants like wasps or ants crawling through a window. Permethrin is much less toxic and lasts a little longer but kills fish. I've had VERY VERY good luck applying Spinosad Spinosad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia every 2-3 weeks until the infestation is controlled.

Be sure to use a fine spray, coating the underside of the leaves and tops of plants and soil. When sprayed on soil, I like to sprinkle some dusting sulfur (agrilcutural stuff, i buy it in 40 pound bags. it's a life saver.) along with a light spray of spinosad after tilling a foot or two down. Spinosad is a little more targeted than things like malathion, which kills just about anything small enough that moves.

Bugs can become tolerant to spinosad, which is why you should observe the 2-3 week break unless it's bad, in which case you might consider a one time broad-spectrum insect killer first if you're not eating anything off it for a week or two. I love sulfur because bugs, fungi, molds, snakes, and other things do not like it -- but many plants do. A fine dusting during a dry spell has done me well for controlling mildew and other crap. I've also applied it directly to cactus and banana plant cuttings, on the exposed areas, before sticking into soil and found a higher rate of survival.