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.

geissene

Looks like you had a bad attack of the mites. I have been treating my plants weekly with neem just as a precaution.

Your basjoo looks like it should make it. Just give it some time, sunlight, and don't overwater. The new growth looks green at the bottom. Theres nothing more I can think to do.

Erik

Your picture is attached here:

cincinnana

Spidermites.....ugh!!
I had them also this winter on a few golden lotus bananas....my plants looked liked yours.

Those fellas travel short distances from plant to plant.
Check out your other plant stock, tables, soil or where ever the plant was for escapees and spray the area.
Be vigilant for mites like other forum member geissene had said.

Also if possible get your plant in the ground soon so it developed some good roots for the winter. Now is the time to do it

Your plant is pretty resilient and in a month or so it should be sorted out.

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Neophyte

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience (good or bad) with using “predatory mites” for spider mite control? I have seen spider mite eating bugs for sale online for this purpose (Nature’s Good Guys and elsewhere) and was curious if anyone had luck with that approach. I am a big fan of “bugs eating bugs” in theory...

subsonicdrone

yes...
i use persimilis
going to try one for scale/mealybug this year as well

high humidity is the key to the predators being able to multiply faster than the mites