Mites on Cuttings

[Kelby Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Kelby]

Having trouble with your cutting? It could be mites.

Tiny red dots in the foreground. They promptly got a nice soap bath.

[AscPete Fig Phenom Find all posts View Profile Close AscPete]

Thanks for sharing.
Neem Oil also works quite well.

[Kelby]

I've got Neem too, but it's a little smellier and might annoy my wife.

[Rewton]

I recently got some 100% neem oil but haven't used it yet. What do you guys suggest as far as a dilution to use as an insecticide (mites, scales, etc)? Do you include some detergent too?

[AscPete]

Have only used Bonide Neem Oil Concentrate, 70% Neem oil @ 2 Tablespoons / gallon of water

[COGardener Fig Phenom Find all posts View Profile Close COGardener]

Mites don't seem to be an issue in Colorado, we have them, however the species we have don't "seem" to mess with anything.

I'm glad you caught them before they did any damage.

[PasturedFigs Member Find all posts View Profile Close PasturedFigs]

NEEM!

Oh boy I made the mistake of using Sevin on some spider mites this winter. It's like an aphrodisiac or something to them because they went wild. I believe the Carbaryl aided the reproduction rate. Neem knocked them down after the flare up.

[AscPete]

Sevin is Broad Spectrum, it kills everything including predatory mites (Beneficial mites) and research has proven what you witnessed first hand.
I made the same past mistake...

[Bigbill Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bigbill]

I have had the same trouble with spider mites this year. I did the soapy water spray. It worked short term, but perhaps the Neem oil would be a longer term fix. Thanks.

[AscPete]

Neem Oil is also a Natural "broad spectrum" which includes being a fungicide... It has multiple uses in plant cultivation and can usually be found listed as Organic. It should be applied at least 5 to 10 days apart to get critters hatching from eggs.

[Harborseal Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Harborseal]

Having trouble with your cutting? It could be mites.

Tiny red dots in the foreground. They promptly got a nice soap bath.

It might be the cause of your trouble...

[Kelby]

Touche...

[Kelby Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Kelby]

After closer inspection of all my cuttings I found more mites, so I sprayed everything down with neem. I'll have to repeat next week.

[Hershell Veteran Find all posts View Profile Close Hershell]

Mites are normally worse inside. They like it hot and dry.

[Mgorski Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mgorski]

Azatrol is a product made from the active ingredient in neem, and is very effective against mites, and doesn't smell much at all. I would recomend using it in a lower concentration, as it can burn the new leaves if mixed too strong. The downside is it is expensive.

Mike in Hanover, VA
Zone 7

[twovkay Member Find all posts View Profile Close twovkay]

Just Neem a few of my plants yesterday. Had a few cuttings lose their young leaves from mites. Didn't even noticed them until I really look to see why they were losing their leaves.

[zone5figger Fig Phenom Find all posts View Profile Close zone5figger]

These insidious little buggers are in my rooted cuttings- drat it!
I thought I wasn't doing something right; fertilizer or watering schedule...my plants were telling me something was off and a close inspection with magnification revealed mites, these are smaller than the spider mites I've dealt with years back. Must have come in with the cuttings, I have been guilty of not washing them down, now I'm thinking 'dormant oil treatment' for cuttings.
Going shopping for the neem later today....