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[IBC] spider mites strike again
Spider mites have gotten my best tree, a nice shohin sized juniper. I'm
going to hold onto it for awhile, but I'm not holding out much hope. Everything is becoming crispy and there's no new growth. This is the second time this has happened to me, at the same time of year. Several years ago I lost a juniper the same way, although at the time I didn't know it was spider mites. Is it a good idea to treat the tree before I put it into winter storage? I'm wondering if the mites winter over in the tree? Craig Cowing NY Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
Craig Cowing wrote: Is it a good idea to treat the tree before I put it into winter storage? I'm wondering if the mites winter over in the tree? Mites overwinter as eggs or as adult females in soil and leaf litter. The mite on juniper overwinters as eggs. My references say they begin to be a problem in May, and are worst in hot dry weather, but I don't know how you overwinter your bonsai: if you have them in a place where they may get unseasonably warm, the mites would hatch and become active earlier: it takes 10 days for the life-cycle to be completed, so in a few weeks you can have a serious outbreak. I'd recommend an insecticidal oil in late winter. That would smother the eggs. Nina |
On Apr 13, 2005, at 8:50 AM, Nina wrote:
Craig Cowing wrote: Is it a good idea to treat the tree before I put it into winter storage? I'm wondering if the mites winter over in the tree? Mites overwinter as eggs or as adult females in soil and leaf litter. The mite on juniper overwinters as eggs. My references say they begin to be a problem in May, and are worst in hot dry weather, but I don't know how you overwinter your bonsai: if you have them in a place where they may get unseasonably warm, the mites would hatch and become active earlier: it takes 10 days for the life-cycle to be completed, so in a few weeks you can have a serious outbreak. I'd recommend an insecticidal oil in late winter. That would smother the eggs. Nina Bill Valvanis emailed me privately and suggested it may be a problem with dryness, which I suppose it could be although I put it away watered and have been watering since it's been out. This morning I took it out of its bonsai pot and put it in a terracotta azalea pot. No root pruning, just transferred it into a somewhat larger pot and added fresh soil to make up the difference. I carefully brushed off as much of the crispy foliage as I could and found there appears to be some live foliage still, so I thought this might help get light and ventilation to the little that's left. I now have the tree in partial shade, with some morning sun. Is there any more I can do besides wait? Craig Cowing NY Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
Bill Valvanis emailed me privately and suggested it may be a problem with dryness, which I suppose it could be although I put it away watered and have been watering since it's been out. This morning I took it out of its bonsai pot and put it in a terracotta azalea pot. No root pruning, just transferred it into a somewhat larger pot and added fresh soil to make up the difference. I carefully brushed off as much of the crispy foliage as I could and found there appears to be some live foliage still, so I thought this might help get light and ventilation to the little that's left. I now have the tree in partial shade, with some morning sun. Is there any more I can do besides wait? I was wondering, because it doesn't _sound_ like how spider mites work. Have you FOUND any? The ol' white paper test? You say you "put it away watered." Do I infer from that that there was no additional water all winter? Dormant trees -- especially dormant trees with evergreen foliage -- do not completely stop respiring in their "off season." Respiration will pull water from the soil (if it can). And if the soil feezes, the freeze further dries out the soil in addition to the fact that the tree can't pull water from frozen soil. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Who has never seen a spider mite (knock on wood!) ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
On Apr 13, 2005, at 1:59 PM, Jim Lewis wrote:
I was wondering, because it doesn't _sound_ like how spider mites work. Have you FOUND any? The ol' white paper test? Hadn't found any. I didn't think that lack of water was the issue, so spider mites was all I could think of. Plus, Professor Anita seemed to think it might be that too. And who am I to question her? You say you "put it away watered." Do I infer from that that there was no additional water all winter? It's rather difficult to water trees when they're buried under snow. ;0) Dormant trees -- especially dormant trees with evergreen foliage -- do not completely stop respiring in their "off season." Respiration will pull water from the soil (if it can). I had all of them mulched under leaves, the same method I've done since I started doing bonsai. Strange thing is that all my other junipers, treated the same way and stored in the same area, are fine. And if the soil feezes, the freeze further dries out the soil in addition to the fact that the tree can't pull water from frozen soil. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Who has never seen a spider mite (knock on wood!) Very true, although you would think that the mulch would keep the moisture in. It was certainly wet when I took them out. It's possible that it dried out after being taken out, although I watered regularly. I"m just going to have to wait and see at this point. Craig Cowing NY Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
Craig Cowing wrote:
On Apr 13, 2005, at 1:59 PM, Jim Lewis wrote: I was wondering, because it doesn't _sound_ like how spider mites work. Have you FOUND any? The ol' white paper test? Hadn't found any. I didn't think that lack of water was the issue, so spider mites was all I could think of. Plus, Professor Anita seemed to think it might be that too. And who am I to question her? Craig Glad this bit came out. This doesn't sound like spider mites to me (see the article at my website http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/mites.htm ) The earliest I have encountered mites out here is in early April (zone 8), and that kind of damage isn't evident until May or later. That means, this kind of severe damage had to occur BEFORE you stored them, OR something else is the culprit. If that degree of damage occurred during or after storage you would certainly find mites, eggs, and debris. Also, you don't normally find mite damage on just ONE plant. If they are there and causing visible damage, then you are going to find at least a few on the other vulnerable species and specimen. Brent Evergreen Gardenworks.com ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
Craig and all:
From what you have described, I ran into a similart problems with Four Fukien Teas (crispy leaves), and I placed them in an enclosed Plastic Bag. (I constructed a more durable ICU). I removed the leaves and one tree died. The other three I left alone, placed them in the ICU and all three have recovered. Every day I opened the ICU for at least 15 minutes to give the change of air. Of course, these trees, were in doors, but I have used the same system (my ICU) on some of my out door trees with good results. Best regards, Carl L Rosner Craig Cowing wrote: On Apr 13, 2005, at 8:50 AM, Nina wrote: Craig Cowing wrote: Is it a good idea to treat the tree before I put it into winter storage? I'm wondering if the mites winter over in the tree? Mites overwinter as eggs or as adult females in soil and leaf litter. The mite on juniper overwinters as eggs. My references say they begin to be a problem in May, and are worst in hot dry weather, but I don't know how you overwinter your bonsai: if you have them in a place where they may get unseasonably warm, the mites would hatch and become active earlier: it takes 10 days for the life-cycle to be completed, so in a few weeks you can have a serious outbreak. I'd recommend an insecticidal oil in late winter. That would smother the eggs. Nina Bill Valvanis emailed me privately and suggested it may be a problem with dryness, which I suppose it could be although I put it away watered and have been watering since it's been out. This morning I took it out of its bonsai pot and put it in a terracotta azalea pot. No root pruning, just transferred it into a somewhat larger pot and added fresh soil to make up the difference. I carefully brushed off as much of the crispy foliage as I could and found there appears to be some live foliage still, so I thought this might help get light and ventilation to the little that's left. I now have the tree in partial shade, with some morning sun. Is there any more I can do besides wait? Craig Cowing NY Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7 www.carlrosner.com http://www.yessy.com/arteacher3725 http://rosner.becanz.net ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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