Stressed plants are more suceptible to mites, but this doesn't explain
why her garden plants succumbed as well as your rhodie, unless the
woman was the world's worst gardener. I can think of one brilliant
hypothesis, however: There are some broad-spectrum insecticides that
wipe out mite's natural enemies and lead to massive outbreaks of mites
a few week's after application. Sometimes the label of the insecticide
will mention this side-effect. I don't need to spell out the moral, do
I? Oh, yes, I probably do. If you have an insect problem, identify
the insect and use the appropriate pesticide. Don't nuke your yard.

This (http://www.ag.uiuc.edu/cespubs/hyg/html/200119b.html) looks like
a good discussion of dormant oils. I couldn't find anything that says
you can't use it on rhododendrons.


Kitsune Miko wrote:
I had an rohodie impeditum for years. One year when
it ws blooming and I needed money, I sold it. It was
beautiful. I was told it had spider mites and
succumed as well as other plants in her gardern. Is
it possible the plant prexisted with mites, but
maintained its health in my garden, but was stressed
in hers? Can you use oil on conifers/evergreens?

Kits