Fukien Tea W/ Aphids :(

JasonG

Good day!

I am rather new to bonsai, I have a few Chinese Elms that are doing
great indoor and I have a Fukien Tea. The tea seems to be doing
pretty good, I've had it for a few weeks (I'm in Michigan, its cold
outside now so its living indoors).

The only problem I see are aphids on the sprouts. There were only a
few, now there are quite a few more. I used a mister/sprayer on the
"Spray hard" setting and knocked a bunch of the aphids off with water.

I have heard conflicting things about DIAZINON -- the gentlemen I got
the tree from said he is sending me a "powder that smells like sulfer"
to put around the base of the trunk that will kill the bugs (not sure
if this is diazinon) or not.

Since this is an indoor tree, I'm hesitant to use a pesticide like
ortholene as it says its for outdoor use only and poisonous to humans
and animals.



What is the best advice to rid of these Aphids in an indoor setting?

Also, I know this tree needs some work as far as trimming goes (I'm a beginner) ... what should I do to improve its look?

Thanks!!!

Please email me if you can, its grasshof@msu.edu

Jason G.

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Earl

I'm sending this message via e-mail to Jason. If any of you think I'm out of line, let me know and I may apologize.

Thanks for joining us Jason. We love to have new members. However, I don't think it's fair to other members of the group to respond to requests for information via e-mail. It deprives everybody else of the responses. If I do a virtual of tree shaping, I want to share it with everybody so I receive comments from everybody else.

E-mail is great for off topic messages or personal correspondence. Otherwise it belongs on the board.

If you respond to this message on the board (not by e-mail) and we know you are checking it out, I'm sure you will get some great help from some great people!

Earl

JasonG

Fair enough

But you didn't tell me anything about how to rid my Fukien Tea of aphids

Jason.

Jay

Jason, Hello and Welcome!

I just went to the bottom of the main page where there is a search feature with this board. I put in 'Aphid Control' and got a couple of responses.... read the one from Sept 6 it has some interesting thoughts.....

Jay

(Sorry... I placed the incorrect date of the post... corrected it is Sept 6)

__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

RonMartin(deceased)

Fukien teas are nice trees. I do like them a lot. But they do seem to be a magnet for bugs. Especially aphids.
If one has a green house that is bug infested there is a cure. Put a couple of tea's in there for a week. When you take the tea's out all the bugs will follow them. ;o)
Years ago I gave up and went to a systemic insecticide. (Orthanex by name) This went a long way toward curing the problem.

JasonG

I also posted the same question on rec.arts.bonsai and got a reply saying that a mix of water, dishwasher soap (1 Tbsp), Rubbing Alcohol (1-2 Tbps), and Veggie Oil (1 Tbps) would do the trick if applied a few times in three day intervals.

Anyone had luck with such a substance? I'm a bit afraid to spray my Fukien Tea and kill it.

Jason

RonMartin(deceased)

That is an old remedy. been around for ever. It does work. Well sort of. It actually has to touch the bug to do any good. It is a contact killer.
And as soon as you water your plant it is gone, washed away.
A reinfestation is just around the corner.

JasonG

It sounds like a start. How about repeating the treatment every other week, or maybe even monthly?

RonMartin(deceased)

If you are going to use the soapy stuff. Re-apply every time the foliage gets wet. If you are going to use the systemic about once every other month. Take your pick ;o)