Is this from spider mites?

I don't like this guessing game, Joe. Get yourself a pocket microscope like this one. I also have a loupe, but I don't use it as much.
Once you know 100% that it's spider mites, you will need to figure out a strategy. There is only one way to nuke them IMHO - it's CO2. I brought spider mites inside twice. Last year I got them with a pepper plant from my garden, no amount of spraying of various solutions helped. I could control them but not eradicate. The key is to spray very early. Once you get an infestation, it's nearly impossible to eradicate them. And they spread to a couple of nearby figs in the same growing location. Once you have them, they will spread. Be very careful if that's what it is. If that extensive damage top to bottom is from mites, they likely have already jumped on nearby plants and surfaces.

This year, I noticed them on one of my very young fig trees that was not lignified and that I tried to protect from freezing temps and some survived. Once the tree had just woke up indoors and began to leaf out, I noticed two tiny webs between two branches. An inspection with a microscope confirmed the presence of two-spotted spider mites. I put the whole tree in a garbage bag filled with pure CO2 for 8 hours. That killed all adult mites and their eggs. It's been several months, and I haven't seen any since. This is the only way to truly 'nuke' them once and for all. I did a 100% concentration, but you can go lower, but the efficacy will be lower - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29594845/

Looking at your plant, it doesn't look like spider mite damage to me that I am familiar with.

If those ARE spider mites, what I now use as a prophylactic solution is a mix of water, sulfur, castile soap and Dawn dish soap. For my 300ml spray bottle I use 1/4 tsp sulfur, 1/4 tsp castile soap, and two drops of Dawn dish soap. I've seen some tiny spider webs on my large trees that I took out of dormancy, I can't give them CO2 bath due to size, so I use this spay. I sprayed all my trees 6 times, doing it every 3 days. So far, there has not been a single spider mite in my grow tent. The key is to repeat 5-6 times every 3-4 days to break the cycle. But, it's always best to spray before the trees leaf out, or leaf out significantly. Once they do, no spray will help 100%. Take a look at the leaves under a microscope - it's a jungle out there. It will be impossible to get 100% coverage. CO2 would be the best solution. The second best, IMO, would be predatory mites.
 
I'm ordering one of those now! Thanks!

I'm not sure it's spider mites but something is going on. It's a bummer because we're so close to being able to bring them outdoors to let the natural predators deal with them.

I'm super paranoid now... washing and changing my clothes before getting anywhere near the hydro area. I have the stuff for a water, sulfur, castile soap and Dawn dish soap spray so will do that tomorrow. I moved it away from the other plants. I was thinking maybe remove the leaves and soil and dunk the entire thing in the solution before potting it up in new, sterile mix

I've never heard of this CO2 method. Do you get that at a welding supply place? I wouldn't know where else.
 
TorontoJoe said:
I like that idea!
Click to expand...
Dose them with neem oil. Make sure you get coverage on the underside of the leaves as well.

Also add some air flow to the room if possible.

I’m starting to see mites in my greenhouse so I think I’m gonna do a ladybug release after all my potted trees wake up.
 
TorontoJoe said:
I'm ordering one of those now! Thanks!

I'm not sure it's spider mites but something is going on. It's a bummer because we're so close to being able to bring them outdoors to let the natural predators deal with them.

I'm super paranoid now... washing and changing my clothes before getting anywhere near the hydro area. I have the stuff for a water, sulfur, castile soap and Dawn dish soap spray so will do that tomorrow. I moved it away from the other plants. I was thinking maybe remove the leaves and soil and dunk the entire thing in the solution before potting it up in new, sterile mix

I've never heard of this CO2 method. Do you get that at a welding supply place? I wouldn't know where else.
Click to expand...
I brew my own beer and I have a couple of CO2 tanks in the house.

Paranoid you should be. Spider mites are no joke. I thought fig bud mites were my biggest fear... until I encountered these little effers.
 
Figsee said:
Dose them with neem oil. Make sure you get coverage on the underside of the leaves as well.

Also add some air flow to the room if possible.

I’m starting to see mites in my greenhouse so I think I’m gonna do a ladybug release after all my potted trees wake up.
Click to expand...
Airflow is crucial with neem oil especially indoors... that stuff stinks to high heaven :)
 
Figgin' A said:
Airflow is crucial with neem oil especially indoors... that stuff stinks to high heaven :)
Click to expand...

I think they might have CO2 at the place where I get some winemaking supplies. I'll check it out.

I'm no stranger to smell of neem. I sprinkled neem cake over some plants many years ago. I tried to ignore it... my wife was pretty ticked about it. She described it as, "when the beater from the upright vacuum snags a carpet thread and spins it until it starts to burn".

A friend in the US said nothing would get rid of the spider mites in his greenhouse short of Forbid. Not something I'll be using in my den.

Pocket microscope is ordered. Will start treating asap. Until then, the plant is under quarantine
 
Figsee said:
I kinda like the smell. Atleast it overwhelms the fish emulsion.
Click to expand...
The cake is a weird smell.... It's almost like you can't describe it as "bad".... just so different that for me, it's off putting..

Fish emulsion is another story altogether! That stuff is rank! Albeit, very good for the plants.
 
TorontoJoe said:
The cake is a weird smell.... It's almost like you can't describe it as "bad".... just so different that for me, it's off putting..

Fish emulsion is another story altogether! That stuff is rank! Albeit, very good for the plants.
Click to expand...
I’m finally into a decent stretch of weather in PA so I’ve started my uppotting and fig shuffle. Before moving to the greenhouse all the trees are getting a neem oil shower.
 
I still am not convinced it is spider mites. 🙂 BUT, I’ve had good success using just enzymatic soap on them. Seemed to get rid of them in one or two applications. I prefer that over neem on young plants.
 
I'm kind of doubtful on the whole spider mite infestation idea. There would be some webbing visible somewhere between the lobes. Also Underside of the leaves would just be coated in eggs. They're not microscopic when it infestation is as prevalent as your pictures are showing you can see mites. They're social creatures by the way.
 
Absolutely do not use horticultural oil. I would think as I always do, Azatrol, or Azamax over horticultural oil. One wonders about your super thrips. Have you been gardening outside, and then going inside? Your propagation Center should be the first thing you do in your day. Never the last.
 
Oh what the heck I'm on a roll. If you're propagation Center is in your basement or in your house then that's inside, and dipping with abermectin, or avid is a great place to start with spider mites. But if it's your super thrip again it won't be helpful.
 
Figless said:
Oh what the heck I'm on a roll. If you're propagation Center is in your basement or in your house then that's inside, and dipping with abermectin, or avid is a great place to start with spider mites. But if it's your super thrip again it won't be helpful.
Click to expand...
You need to have a pair of shoes that never goes outside of your propagation Center..
 
Figless said:
Oh what the heck I'm on a roll. If you're propagation Center is in your basement or in your house then that's inside, and dipping with abermectin, or avid is a great place to start with spider mites. But if it's your super thrip again it won't be helpful.
Click to expand...

Outdoor shoes and clothes never go into the basement grow space. I learned that lesson.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top