Mites

[MattyB]

Please share some stuff on mites.

I was searching for threads and didn't find much.  I did find this photo from Don Kittleson.  Is that George Bush on the left? :laugh:  :laugh:  :laugh:

[deezpalms]

Hahahaa!! I think it is George!!  

This looks like the ceremony where the men have to wear gloves with a bunch of biting bugs inside. I forget what type of bug they were, maybe fire ants?

[DoomsDave]

I'll send you all the mites you want, seeing's how you want me to share . . . .

dave

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Pretty sure this is an authentic picture of Bush.  

[bgl]

I had no idea that Cheney is a midget....oh, I forgot, I guess they're called "small persons" now (or is that "little people"??) Who can keep track of all this stuff anyway...

[MattyB]

Bump!  Seriously guys!  Mites are a major problem.  I visited two friends gardens this week and both of them had mites killing lots of stuff but they didn't even know it.  I'm convinced that people loose lots of stuff to mites and never even know they had them.  I know I did but now that I know what to look for I spot them everywhere.  I treated all my plants before loading up my new greenhouse and I keep finding more.  I think that it's because they're so small they hide anywhere and reproduce back to full population very quickly.  HELP!!!!!!!!

[Matt in SD]

Matt,

Like you mentioned the other day.  I took everything out of my greenhouse and sprayed the leaves off with water a couple times a week for a month or so.  Then brought them in one by one after thorough inspection.  I did not find a single mite in my greenhouse for about 3 months after that with no treatment.  But right after I emailed you that I had gotten rid of the mites finally, I went out and found a couple mites on three different plants.  

For my outdoor plants, whenever I see mites I just spray off under the leaves.  Usually after a couple times doing this (weekly) they're gone for good.  But in the greenhouse you really have to check every plant weekly or so and either spray them off (outside) or spray with a chemical insecticide.  Neem oil and soap spray work too, but that's an every two week kind of deal, and I'm suspicious that it may cause other problems.

Matt

[DoomsDave]

Kelthane was an effective miticide, but it's off the market, unless you can find some in someone's garage.  It worked!

I'm not sure what the new replacement is.  I'll try to find out.

dave

[MattyB]

Thanks Dave, I need all the help I can get.  Maybe a grenade?

[Tyrone]

As mentioned, mites can be a problem in greenhouses as there is so much protection from the elements in there. I had a problem with some of my Carpoxylons and my coconut which started having webs tun up everywhere and an infestation of red spider mite. The first thing I did was spray with a product caled Folimat in Oz. That's an instant knockdown. I came back the next day and sponged off the leaves to remove the webs, dead mites etc and it's amazing what was at first invisible becomes visible once it's dead and sponged off. Then I made a mix of neem, seaweed, and fish emulsion. The neem is a miticide but also a fert, and everyone knows what fish and seaweed do, so it's a good combo. The mix makes the plant poisonous to mites for a while as it's systemic and gives the plants a boost while your at it, giving back what the mites sucked out. I went back two weeks later and sprayed with Folimat again just in case some eggs were left and the cycle continued. So far about 3 weeks later, no mites and plants are continuing on in winter. I hate mites.

best regards

Tyrone

[osideterry]

Neem worked for me on a Pacaya Palm, but the leaves seemed to curl up a bit. Nothing else I threw at the mites phased them. I still use Neem oil on the same palm, as the mites always come back, but I space 3 weeks between treatments. Anyone else see adverse effects from the Neem Oil?

[tjwalters]

Anyone here ever consider, or even try, predatory mites?  I'm curious as to how effective they are, since I seem to get a mite outbreak in the sunroom every year around January and it's too cold here to drag the palms out and spray them.

[mike453]

Matty,

I have posted this before, I am totaly sold on neem oil. I use it on even the smallest seedlings and have never had the plants damaged. It also works for a long time at least in my growing conditions. (greenhouse and indoors) They don't come back for 2 to 3 months.

                        Mike

[Mats]

Here's an interesting article about controlling mites.  They say to be careful using other insecticides as you can kill off all the mite's predators and end up exacerbating your mite problem.

Avid is one of the best miticides but it's very expensive.  Talstar is less expensive but not as effective.  

Matt, I'm a bit leary of pulling out the big guns, chemical wise, in a small home greenhouse like yours or Jack's.  'Sunspray Ultra-Fine Oil' may one of the better (and certainly less toxic), products to use.

[el-blanco]

Matt,

Come see me in Dana Point and I can hook you up with some AVID.  As stated it is very expensive.  I paid $98 for 8 ounces BUT it is highly concentrated.  If you are growing a lot of palms and having continual problems invest in a bottle.  the stuff works.

With Avid you treat the palms once a week for three weeks and bang - no mites.  I treated the greenhouse I use to have that was infested with them and low and behold the application lasted 9 months before I saw even a trace of new activity.

The ratio I believe it 1/2 ounce to 1 gallon of water.  Not sure but it is a small amount.

Hope this helps.

Jeff