bananimal

My Siam Ruby and Ensette Maurelii are up the ying-yang with spider mites. Tried Organocide thrice - they came back twice. Used Malathion - same same.

Time for the systemics, last line of defense. :2687: Hate to do it, but used the stuff years ago on my river birch in NC and I know it works. None of the edible naners are affected - amazing!

Dan

D_&_T

anyone ever try mixing up some soap water to spray on the plant, Tara did this on her mimi rose, they were being eating up by Japanse bettles and what not now new growth all over

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Fcastro

You could try Permethrin (SP ?), I got some at a feed store when I had caterpillars, that stuff kills every kind of bug that there is, works for a long time too. I sprayed some on the concrete leading to the shade house and for about a month I'd sit on the steps and watch the caterpillars try to cross the "Line Of Death" , they'd get a couple of inches across the line and curl up and die. This stuff is also the main ingredient in K9 Advantix for Dogs, it'll keep everything off your dog, even mosquitoes won't bite them. It'll kill a cat though, so be careful if you have any. I tried mixing a little with baby-oil and using it like I did the Advantix on my dogs and it worked like a charm. I wish that I could use it for the mosquito repellant effect. Tried it once,got sick.

Kylie2x

You've got my sympathy... This is the first yr I have ever had spider mites.. they are relentless. I have only had problems with the Brugs thank goodness....Spidermites don't like moisture... I basically defoiliated the plants and have kept them sprayed.. They are gone for now...Ther Brugs have recovered and beginning to bloom...

An organic mixture I use for most everything is Orange oil (TKO is the best IMHO) garlic ,habaneros and liquid seaweed....blended together and diluted used as a spray.. Doesn't disturb the balance of nature...
Best of luck!
Kylie

Carolina

I've also been lucky with the soapy water but only had a bad infestation once on a single rose bush and it was too far gone by the time I noticed.

mrbungalow

Yes, soapy water keeps the mites in check. But make sure you use the old fashioned, oily, natural kind of soap. Not the new zesty lemon-explosion kind of soap.

Erlend

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modenacart

Soapy water is great stuff. I believe it softens the exoskeleton causing the bugs to die.

Tangy

Sounds like a good hot sauce!

bananimal

Hey Michael,

Back in Charlotte there was a great taco place, and I used to lace mine liberally with a hot sauce that fits that description - visually that is. It was green (no seaweed), had habaneros and garlic -- the green version of the brand "El Yucateco". It's a screamer, good and hot with a good taste. If you are into hot you gotta try it.

Dan

D_&_T

Dan
I think that you need to send some of that HOT Sauce my husband's way....he loves the HOT stuff and the rest of us like the mild stuff.

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Kylie2x

LOL!!! I'm lookin that up... DH swears my taste buds are fried...I'm not allowed to make the hot sauce...unless it is just for me.. I do make a mean green sauce.....
Kylie

Lagniappe

Are any of you using predatory mites / insects ?

Kylie2x

From what I undertsand (the information was cloudy).. there are many different types of "preditory Mites".. The one you need depends on what type of climate you have and there is no gaurantee they will fix the problem..We do everything we can to stay Totally Organic..There are a mulitude of "home remedies"...Spider mites don't like moist conditions...The more moisture you have the less they like it.. I don't know where the go but they leave...I have struggled with them all yr.. Finally they are gone......somewhere..LOL

cactus6103

Soap and water all the way! It works on all the plants and even the grass. I've been doing this since the early '90's with great results. Red

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Family, Friends and Bananas

Lagniappe

I use the soap and water bit with good results and add beer for my lawn . But I wonder if anyone one this board has had luck using the creepy crawlies as a frontline defense ?

D_&_T

how about diluting insanity sauce or salsa...........................1tsp is good in a bowl of chili at a restaurant, 2 hurts

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Lagniappe

It probably has a lot of salt in it .

D_&_T

did'nt read all of ingredients.....................just the WARNING
friend let me sample it, he took 2 heaping tsp. and later could slick his hair back

Dan

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bananimal

Before applying mega bug juice, I took a scalpel to the Maurelii. Excavating outer layers at a time - cutting vertical slits until the head of a 2 inch long caterpillar type thingie emerged, crawling its' way out of the central core. Yanked it out with tweezers and now have found the culprit!!! Green with striped flanks -- tossed him onto the deck and stomped him good.

Florida has more critters than one can believe. It made a bore hole thru the wall of an internal leaf stalk and was chomping on the newly sprouting leaf. It also left a trail of what I can only describe as bug poop in it's wake. I mean a lot!

The SR had only s-mites, and after a spray of Oganocide should be OK - we'll see.

Folks --- I am starting to believe that when you recieve a plant thru the mail the best thing to do is stick it in the ground immediately. And that means not inside the pool enclosure in a pot. Outside the lizzards and other benificial critters of the wild outdoors can can control any unforseen problems right away.

Any thoughts or experiences on this???

Dan

NANAMAN

I haven't had any real damage from anything, but I do see different species of birds going through the yard all the time. Also have plenty of tree frogs, toads, lizards,etc... Frogs and toads eat a ton of bugs every night so there must be something here to support them! Tree frogs seem to like a moist environment and they love to hide inside rolled up banana leaves during the day. You can attract toads by giving them someplace to hide, (a few broken in 1/2 clay pots) positioned in a shady place of the garden, and you'll have em fighting each other for squatters rights to their new condos.

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