I think I have mites, Treatment options?

ZolaSparrow

I received a Juniper Bonsai Tree for Christmas in 2007. Recently I noticed small webbing appearing on the branches and the leaves. I looked around and there was a thread that said that this may be mites and to tap the branch over a piece of white paper. If black specks came up and smeared red then it was mites. I did that and I got the black specks but when I smeared them it was green. I am not sure if this is just a different type of mites or another pest.
Also, the tree is kept indoors. This is my first Bonsai Tree, and my first attempt at caring for one.
I took pictures of the webbing, the base of the tree, the smear, and of my entire tree.

This is the entire tree; the windowsill in the corner is where the tree usually sits. There is no "direct" sunlight because the house next door will block that, but there still is light that comes through for a good portion of the day.

I also noticed some white on the moss around the base of my tree, I am not sure if this is an issue, if it is, is there any treatment for this?

This is the close up of the webbing. When I tried removing some of it and when I rubbed it between my fingers it felt slightly gritty. There is also webbing on the branch leading to the right side of the tree from the main picture.

Finally here is the smear. In this picture it looks slightly black, I am not sure what changed, but when I smeared the black specks it is greenish.

I do hope that some one will be able to help. If it is mites what kind of treatment should I use? If where I live may determine what kind of treatment should be used, I live in Michigan. If keeping the tree outside during the warmer months would bee a good idea for preventing this in the future please let me know. I haven't had the chance because the book I have said that it should be inside during the colder months.
The book I have been using is "Bonsai Mater Class" by Craig Coussins.

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redhawkbonsai

Yep you got them!
You proved it to yourself, that you have them with the paper/smear test.
When they show the "webs" it might be too late. ..sorry to say

see #12 on http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/f7/syst...elms-27298.html

good luck, redhawk

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ZolaSparrow

Thank you very much. When things clear up I will let you know ^_^. Thanks again
Zola

MelloBonsai

Yes, those are definetly spider mites. That link should help you out. To answer your other question, Junipers will always do better outdoors. I haven't heard many if any success stories of them staying alive indoors.

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PatArizona

G'day Zola...well, maybe not good...

As said above, it may be too late.

However, this is an oportunity to learn a good lesson. And that is...make it a habit to examine your bonsai every day...or, at least every time you water. If you follow this practice, you should discover this type of problem soon enough to remedy it.

In the mean time...it may not be too late...

Try CARL’S SOAP SOLUTION (below).

I have used this for years...it works for me.

CARL’S SOAP SOLUTION!

INGREDIENTS
Water
Dish Detergent
Rubbing Alcohol
Vegetable Oil

DIRECTIONS

Fill a gallon jug with water and add one (1) or two (2) tablespoons of dishwashing detergent and one (1) tablespoon of vegetable oil (or Neem oil). Shake up the gallon jug to mix the ingredients.

Fill this solution from the gallon bottle into a spray bottle and just before using add 1 to 2 two caps full (from the rubbing alcohol bottle) of rubbing alcohol and spray immediately. If you do not use the full bottle of spray, the next time you are going to use the soap/alcohol solution add the same amount of rubbing alcohol again, since the alcohol will evaporate. You can store this soap/oil solution in the gallon jug for months on end. It does not seem to go bad.

Spray on plants covering all leaf and stem surfaces. You may have to spray from three to four times with intervals of three days. This works for almost any kind of pest that attacks your trees, including scale.

I do not wash off the spray and have seen no adverse reaction to the trees from this mixture.

From Carl L. Rosner, 4/11/2007

Be sure to follow Carl's instructions.

Good luck...and I hope it's not too late.

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

PatArizona

G'day again Zola...

As stated above...Juniper is an outdoor tree...always outdoors...

Craig Coussins is a good teacher, but "...it should be inside during the colder months..." is not good advice...even for Michigan.

Probably not a good idea to put your bonsai outside now...but in the spring, as soon as your overnight temps are not freezing.

First priority now is to get into that local club and hook up with a couple of locals who have been doing bonsai in Michigan for at least a few year. This is where you will get the best advice for bonsai in your geographical location.

Take your bonsai to a club meeting and ask for help...hope it's not too late.

And, keep asking questions here on bonsaiTALK...

Have a good day...


Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

eeiko321

OHHH YUK!

gives me the goosebumps when i see these kind of things!

let us know how you went with the soap soloution.....
update us....

ZolaSparrow

Last week, after recieving the message about getting the mite-icide I immediately went out and got the stuff. The tree seems to be doing much better. I did a test today and there are less mites showing up on the paper. The webbing has gone down.
I will try the soap solution this round since the mite-icide said to go every 7-10 days.
I went to a website that I saw on the beginners forum about finding local clubs, but was unable to locate how to find the local clubs, I may have been over looking things and missed it, could some one please direct me a bit closer to that page?

As per the checking while watering, the book said to water only when the moss did not feel damp, is this a bad idea? Also, I did not think that the webbing was spider mites, I just thought it was a small dust collecting (my bad I see now) and did not think it was anything wrong and just wipped it off.
I will move my tree to a safe place outside once the temperatures stay above freezing ^_^.

Thank you all SOOO much. As soon as I find a local club I will try to get in contact with some one for some more help.

Oh, and the tree was brownish last week, I am happy to say that it is turning a greener color now. So I think that it will make it. Then again I could be seeing things and being dilusional about saving the tree.
Zola!

PatArizona

G'day Zola...

Sorry about that...

Use LIQUID dish detergent...

I hope it works for you.

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.