I've got some honeylocust seedlings that germinated a couple months ago.
I'm not sure they'll make good bonsai, but I figured they'd give me
something to watch grow during winter. I collected some pine, spruce, elm,
oak, and honeylocust seeds from a local park last fall. Of those,
honeylocusts were the only ones that didn't need a cold stratification
period.

They're about 8-12 inches tall. They were a nice green color until just a
few days ago. The leaves are now yellow white with dark green dots. There
also appears to be cobwebs around the leaves. Nothing drastic has changed
in their environment or in how often I've been watering them...whenever the
soil is dry. They've occupied a place under some grow lights next to a
catnip that is flourishing, as well as a few cacti.

Any ideas what I could have done wrong or how to resuscitate them? It's not
a great loss, but I hate to see any tree die, and I'd at least like to learn
something from this mistake. I was hoping to give them a head start before
transferring them outside in the spring.


Eric

wrote in message
...
I've got some honeylocust seedlings that germinated a couple months
ago.
I'm not sure they'll make good bonsai, but I figured they'd give me
something to watch grow during winter. I collected some pine, spruce,
elm,
oak, and honeylocust seeds from a local park last fall. Of those,
honeylocusts were the only ones that didn't need a cold stratification
period.

They're about 8-12 inches tall. They were a nice green color until
just a
few days ago. The leaves are now yellow white with dark green dots.
There
also appears to be cobwebs around the leaves.

Spider mites. You must get rid of them. It may help if you take the
seedlings into the shower and wash them off. Thoroughly! From every
angle! Young honeylocust foliage is tender and the leaflets get stuck
together when wet. So, after showering, you should shake the remaining
water off, wait for the foliage to dry and then repeat the process.
Several times. Over several days.

If the attack is severe then the best thing might be to use an
insecticide.

Nothing drastic has changed
in their environment or in how often I've been watering
them...whenever the
soil is dry. They've occupied a place under some grow lights next to
a
catnip that is flourishing, as well as a few cacti.

Any ideas what I could have done wrong or how to resuscitate them?
It's not
a great loss, but I hate to see any tree die, and I'd at least like to
learn
something from this mistake. I was hoping to give them a head start
before
transferring them outside in the spring.


Eric

Luke:

Spider mites.

Thanks! I think that's exactly what I have after reading about them and
finding pictures of infected trees. I've showered the seedlings, and
hopefully, they'll recover. From what I've read, the mites like drier
conditions, so I may start misting the trees often. Of course, that might
create yet another problem...


Eric