HELP-Do I need to rinse off spray? - bonsaiTALK Community

22-Apr-2005	#1
melisan bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Apr-2005 Location: Santa Cruz Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 167	HELP-Do I need to rinse off spray? I just sprayed down my plants with a homemade mixture of 2 cups water, 1/8 th cup olive oil, 1/8th cup detergent. The spider mites died on contact !!Should I spray the bonsais off with water in 24 hours or can I leave this on them Melissa

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22-Apr-2005	#2
BrianBay9 Trunk Collector Join Date: Sep-2003 Location: Loveland, CO Country: USA USDA Zone: 4 or 5? AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,362	If the spider mites are dead, it can't hurt to wash the foliage with water. I've found from bitter experience that its a good idea to test out a pesticide on a small amount of foliage before spraying your whole tree. Some leaves are more sensitive than others. Good luck Brian

22-Apr-2005	#3
pootsie The Cat's Apprentice *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: May-2004 Location: Columbus o-HI-o Country: USofA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 3,065	This mixture won't harm the plant, but if you leave it on it can continue harming the bugs You may need to re-treat a few times. Keep an eye on the little crawlies for a while. pootsie __________________ p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master. Columbus Bonsai Society

22-Apr-2005	#4
melisan bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Apr-2005 Location: Santa Cruz Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 167	retreat Thanks Brain and Pootsie, Since I read that the ovacides hatch in 5-7 days on these red spiders, I will retreat next week. I am torn between rinsing this stuff off later today or leaving it on. After all, I don't think if you use Neem or Volck oil you are supposed to rinse it off so why would I with olive oil and soap??But, the plants will tell me if they are stressed. I am going out now to check out my trees now. I will let you know how things go. Melissa

22-Apr-2005	#5
melisan bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Apr-2005 Location: Santa Cruz Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 167	still got them My mixture did not work I still have mites. So, right now I am soaking my elm upside down in water to see if this helps. this is becoming a drag Melissa

22-Apr-2005	#6
pootsie The Cat's Apprentice *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: May-2004 Location: Columbus o-HI-o Country: USofA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 3,065	Melissa: Solutions like this require multiple applications, in my experience. Super-toxic stuff works right away. Less hazardous stuff takes a little longer. Don't freak. Just keep on keepin' on. The bioganic stuff I'm using takes almost daily application, but on the good side it smells nice and won't kill me while it kills the bugs. pootsie __________________ p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master. Columbus Bonsai Society

22-Apr-2005

Aaron_K

bonsaiTALK Master Chief

Join Date: Mar-2004

Country: England

USDA Zone: 8

AHS Heat Zone: 2-3

Posts: 1,477

Quote:

Originally Posted by melisan

My mixture did not work

I still have mites.

So, right now I am soaking my elm upside down in water to see if this helps. this is becoming a drag

Melissa

This is probably the best "natural" way of killing the spider mites, scale and aphids. Suspending them upside down in some water with a few drops of detergent will drown them good and proper.

Without adding the detergent, you will have very limited success, as an air pocket will form around the mouth and esophagus of the insect preventing it from being drowned. Breaking the water molecules down with soap/detergent will permit the water to enter the respiratory system of the darling little bugs, sending them to their watery graves

Amen!

All the best,

Aaron

23-Apr-2005

melisan

bonsaiTALK Expert

Join Date: Apr-2005

Location: Santa Cruz

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 9

AHS Heat Zone: ?

Posts: 167

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_K

Without adding the detergent, you will have very limited success,
Aaron

Aaron,

I left out the detergent

so tomorrow morning, I will redo the dip. How long should I leave it in the water? I am wondering how often to treat the trees

? Do I do it prophylacticly once a week after this or more often?

Thanks for your advice

Melissa

23-Apr-2005	#9
Aaron_K bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Mar-2004 Country: England USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2-3 Posts: 1,477	Hi Mel, Its a simple enough thing to do. You would be forgiven for thinking that submerging the tree like that would be enough to kill them, but for the reasons I explained above... they wont drown without detergent. Soak the tree for a few hours, 3-4 should be sufficient, then remove and rinse. Leave it for a few days, then repeat the process if the mites are still there. Carry on this regime till the mites have gone. I'm a big fan of this method, as its worked successfully for me in the past, and also doesn't harm anything, other than the bugs, plus you get nice clean leaves as a result! Good luck and happy drowning All the best, Aaron

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