One shot your dead !

Discuss palms you grow inside.

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macario
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One shot your dead !

Post by macario » Tue Nov 27, 2012 12:30 pm

Hello everyone Im just posting because this is year two of me using Ortho Malathion spray indoors and its the best instant death for mites there is.

I tested it on a severly infested italian cypress . I took the tree outside soaked the dirt the base of the trunk and everything in the middle . I left it outside until it dried aboout 2 hours and every little mite died and is still dead. The infestation also was on my foxtail and it got the same treatment and 3 weeks later no mites anywhere.

Last year i isprayed my banana corms and they all made it but one that rotted away.


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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 » Tue Nov 27, 2012 2:29 pm

Hi Mike,

You had an Italian Cypress indoors? :shock: :lol:

Foxtails sure seem to get mites in a warm home...my big one had it too.
But this year, it's spending winter in the cold building. :twisted:

Good to hear the stuff works.
Does it stink when you bring plants back in?

Barb
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hardyjim
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Post by hardyjim » Tue Nov 27, 2012 2:37 pm

Thats good-

I think Mike in Chi-town recommended that too. :wink:
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sashaeffer
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Post by sashaeffer » Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:38 am

Barb? how cold is the building that your going to put your Foxtail in to protect it from mites? My prized/favorite palm is my 8/9 ft tall Foxtail and yesterday noticed one entire branch covered in a web of spider mites. First plant I've ever seen mites on in my house!

I soaked some rags in some warm Neem oil and using both hands ran each branch of the plant through the rags to soak the bugs and remove the web. Later I used a 1 to 1 ratio of water and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and sprayed the palm....and a few others close to it.

Temps in my house never go below 68 deg, and humidity is 50-60% all the time so was surprised by seeing the mites on the branch. I had backed off on watering the Foxtail compared to other plants, so maybe that helped lead the mites to it?

Scott
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hardyjim
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Post by hardyjim » Wed Nov 28, 2012 6:57 am

When it warms up,you would be better off taking it out side and completely hosing off the undersides.

No way you can get to all of the leaves on a palm that size and not destroy your house :shock:

Maybe then let it dry out and hit it(undersides ESPECIALLY)with some Malathion and let dry.
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sashaeffer
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Post by sashaeffer » Wed Nov 28, 2012 7:08 am

I failed to mention too that when I first noticed them I did spray the entire plant with indoor/outdoor insecticide. It dried on there for a few hours before I used the wet towel/neem oil mix. I was surprised...and happy to see the webbing was only on one branch of the palm.
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lucky1
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Post by lucky1 » Wed Nov 28, 2012 8:00 am

Barb? how cold is the building that your going to put your Foxtail in
Building stays at approx. 5C (41F?), seldom ever above 48F, lots of south windows for light.
This is the first year it's being kept that cool, and it'll likely suffer.

Foxtails are notorious for spider mites.
I swear these buggers would get spider mites even if they were placed in the bathtub. :roll:
As Jim said, it's almost impossible to get into all the crevices underneath.
Lack of webbing doesn't mean they're gone.

I used to spend hours "wet clothing" my Foxtail, worked for a couple of weeks and presto, mites were back again.
I had backed off on watering the Foxtail compared to other plants, so maybe that helped lead the mites to it?
I don't know.
When it warms up,you would be better off taking it out side and completely hosing off the undersides.
Excellent advice.
But not an option for anyone in Canada :lol:

Spraying insecticides and neem oil indoors almost ruined my wood floor.
Even after I used an old sheet underneath to catch droplets. :|

I've never been able to achieve the coolness/higher humidity that would deter spider mites on the Foxtail, yet warm enough to keep the plant thriving.
Barb
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sashaeffer
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Post by sashaeffer » Wed Nov 28, 2012 8:09 am

Thanks for your advice Barb. Room the Foxtail is in has a LOT of other palms/plants in it so will have to do what it takes to maintain control.

Going to be nice here this weekend so will get wife to help me get it in garage and totally soak it with insctcide/Neem oil spray and will start putting Neem oil in water I give it as a systemic. Will also use insecticidal soap when I spray it. Will also leave humidifier in that room as well and see what all happens when it comes to control.
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lucky1
Arctic Palm Plantation
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Post by lucky1 » Wed Nov 28, 2012 8:23 am

I've got one of these http://www.homedepot.ca/wcsstore/HomeDe ... 6781_4.jpg so I don't have to wait for help.
a LOT of other palms/plants in it
And even keeping the palms from touching one another isn't foolproof.

Starting with the Foxtail will keep the mite problem down to a dull roar.
Each Fall we seem to have a lot of ladybugs that somehow make their way into the house.
In other years, I used to gently collect them from windows upstairs and relocate them onto plants downstairs.
This palm hobby drives us crazy eventually, as H suggests. :geek:

A maturing Foxtail's beauty is worth the hassle. :?
Especially when each new leaf is more plumose than the last.

Good luck; let us know if you find the elusive combination, Scott.
Barb
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hardyjim
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Post by hardyjim » Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:24 am

I know this sounds ridiculous but if there is a way to turn it upside down and spray it at
least you'll get the little plant wreckers in the face-if you don't want their a$$ on a platter now you will :D
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sashaeffer
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Post by sashaeffer » Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:28 am

LOL Jim, wish I could but it is much too tall. Will take two people to get it out to garage where I can really soak it down, then spray it off.
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hardyjim
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Post by hardyjim » Wed Nov 28, 2012 10:34 am

I used to spray all kinds of poison on mine,the damage was almost as bad as the bugs :D


Seriously..........I sprayed mine off a lot this year because I had to use the hose so much...

I also removed some of the plants (Basjoo)that were reinfecting the palms,this worked pretty
good and I only had a little WSM to deal with right at the end of the indoor season...
mostly on the Bananas and such.
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canadianplant
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Post by canadianplant » Thu Nov 29, 2012 4:58 am

For mites, I just use a drop of dishsoap in a spray bottle with a half a tsp of olive oil. IF that doesnt work, I use safers soap, which is basically the same as the soap/olive oil mix i make except they use horticultural oil in it. Used correctly it gets rid of all mites ive seen and even scale.

I also mist my houseplants once or twice a day, and before bringing them inside they get a massive spray with the hose and a soap spray.
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sashaeffer
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Post by sashaeffer » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:16 am

Canadianplant...

How much water are you adding the soap/olive oil to? do you fill the entire bottle?

I have to be careful about not making the solution too "soapy" or "oily" as I get yelled at if I get too much over spray on windows or floors making each sticky.

I have to remind the wife that I could have a far more expensive hobby, or go hand out at the casinos! that usually quiets her up till the next over spray incident lol.
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macario
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Palms

Post by macario » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:50 am

Sorry it takes so long to respond most of my computers at work dont let me on any websites. only one i rarely use. No the smell only lasted about an hour and it faded fast. I have a huge entrance way and I just brought them in. I have2 italian cypress 3 palms 18' and 20' a queen a christmas palm and a foxtail and they dont touch the ceiling. and there all close buy and all had mites.
I have a garage with I may put the foxtail in there its always in the 40's in there nice and cool

Jim I tried did what you said spraying the undersides. My palms are huge but I just pulled the palm on an angle and layed it sideways and soaked the hell out of the crown thnx for the idea
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macario
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Palms

Post by macario » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:50 am

Sorry it takes so long to respond most of my computers at work dont let me on any websites. only one i rarely use. No the smell only lasted about an hour and it faded fast. I have a huge entrance way and I just brought them in. I have2 italian cypress 3 palms 18' and 20' a queen a christmas palm and a foxtail and they dont touch the ceiling. and there all close buy and all had mites.
I have a garage with I may put the foxtail in there its always in the 40's in there nice and cool

Jim I tried did what you said spraying the undersides. My palms are huge but I just pulled the palm on an angle and layed it sideways and soaked the hell out of the crown thnx for the idea
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sashaeffer
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Post by sashaeffer » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:57 am

Wow, sounds like I was lucky last year not to have ANY issues with insects on the plants...but then I didn't have my Foxtail either, and from what Barb said they must attract Spider Mites like a magnet..but then it makes me wonder how they got into the house to begin with since I spray every new plant I get with insecticide in the garage first before bringing them in.
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hardyjim
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Post by hardyjim » Thu Nov 29, 2012 5:57 am

Cool Mike,.......

I know its a pain but so are the mites :evil:

If I had a big plant with WSM I would probably tape some plastic around the
pot so the soil would not fall out and blast away....outside :D
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canadianplant
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Post by canadianplant » Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:34 am

scott, I usually use a normal spray bottle full of warm water. Ive added half a tsp of soap before when things got outta hand. I usually try to rinse the plants off every few months so the soap residue doesnt block the stomata
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macario
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palms

Post by macario » Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:49 am

Jim May try that too. Being in my new place I still trying to get into a new routine

Scott last year I sprayed the palms with this same stuff and I had no infestation all winter long. Now I moved and have a new house I forgot and payed the price. But I found a place near my new home that has this and I hope it beats the mites back all winter like last year.
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