Spider Mites for Dummies

[Nievesgirl]

Yes I found some one on eBay selling 1/2 oz. Thanks for the info Charlie I will sure to get some protective wear before I use it.

[davidwood]

Darkhorse, ha ha ha, thank you so much,first of good advice on washing your hands ,obvious i suppose but it never occurred to me that I could be spreading the problem. I will now no longer get fed up when i am feeling down about a few spider mites,i sometimes feel a bit isolated here in Vietnam, but now having read the whole article i know i am not on my own and am still laughing about showering with the plants.My girlfriend who is Vietnamese already thinks i am a nut case with the amount of time and money i spend on my hobby,god knows what she will think in the morning when she finds Acapulco Gold in the shower.

What is not mentioned is the use of worm castings as a prevention against spider mites, the guy trying to get a patent is making some pretty strong claims and i was wondering if any one had any positive results by using them [ i am about to try myself soon].   David.

[Darkhorse]

lol David!  My better half thinks I am a nutcase as well... although to his credit I wonder about myself sometimes too!


I haven't heard about worm castings as a preventative tool against spider mites, but I'd be willing to give them a try to find out.

[davidwood]

Yes it suprises me that no one has mentioned on here about the guy's claim ,quote and copied from this website
''The speed of repellency is in direct relation to the size of the plant. Spider mites will leave house plants in about two weeks. Aphids will leave roses in less than two months and it will take about three months for all of the white flies to leave a ten foot tall hibiscus.''
Maybe Charlie will have some info or maybe i will ask a question about this in its own right and see if any one has had any positive results. David.

[Charlie]

Well, it's an interesting question although the jury is still out about how effective worm castings are at repelling insects. I use the castings because they definitely help suppress pathogenic fungi in the soil. Since I began using worm castings in my potting mix death from fungus disease has been reduced to almost negligible for me. There is no question that worm castings introduce beneficial microorganisms to the soil that colonize the roots of plants in the soil. It has been well established that such beneficial organisms help plants use nutrients more efficiently and that they compete with pathogenic organisms that make their way into the soil or potting mix.

More controversial is this theory of repellancy. George Hahn makes a good case for it and no doubt he is one of the world's foremost authorities in the practical use of worm castings. In my greenhouse conditions insects and mites are able to reproduce very quickly due to the favorable temperatures and other environmental conditions. More so than in an outdoor garden or inside the house. That makes it harder for me to evaluate how worm castings do in "normal" circumstances. I have to spray pesticides to control insects and mites in the hot greenhouse, no way around it that I have found.

Other people have reported to us what they consider to be success with using worm castings to repel insects. My opinion is that there is an effect but it is best to be prepared with multiple strategies that can be used together for overall success.

One of the factors that has to be considered is that worm castings must be used correctly to get the benefits. They are alive so must be stored so that they survive - not frozen or overheated - and they need to be activated by water when applied to soil or potting mix which should not be allowed to dry out completely. No drought followed by flooding which the hibiscus don't much like either.  They also flourish best when the microorganisms in them have something to "eat", such as organic matter like compost. If used in pots they should be refreshed at least once per year with fresh worm castings as they tend to die out over time in a pot.

There are lots of testimonials out there for the benefits of worm castings and many come from professional landscapers and nurserymen. Whether castings can eliminate insect problems is less well established but any comments anyone has about their results would be appreciated.

Charlie

[Charlie]

Kerry, I saw those offers for tiny amounts of Avid. What concerned me about them is that this would be a private repackaging and not a sealed factory bottle. You have no way to know if the pesticide has been diluted with water in order to increase profits, or adulterated in other ways. 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of the real stuff is enough to kill mites effectively. If you use it at that strength, and it does not seem to work, suspect that a diluted product was shipped. Hopefully all will be well but just keep in mind that 1/4 teaspoon is the amount recommended on the label and that it does work at that strength.

You can also see the problem in filling a spray bottle that holds a quart or less - how do you measure out 1/16 of a teaspoon accurately! You can mix a gallon in an empty milk jug but making sure it is labeled well and nobody uses it for anything else can be a challenge. Pesticides are not supposed to be mixed in water and stored due to the possibility of breaking down before use but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

Good luck and be safe!

Charlie

[motherof4]

how much and how often should worm castings be used for my hibiscus in the ground?/I have some now ...should I wait until nicer weather to apply....I live in sanbernardino ,ca area.....we have been having a lot of rain on and off..

[Nievesgirl]

I just reread you regime Jordan, and you gave me a great Idea to help me with my battle. I am going to go to home depot and get a new shower head lol the ones that can detach so I can spray my plants better 

[Darkhorse]

Good, Kerry!  I need to invest in one of those as well.  I always rip at least one leaf off or tear a leaf accidentally.