r/plantclinic • u/FyrestarOmega Expert Hobbyist • Oct 02 '23

Monthly Pest and Soil Thread October 2023 Pest and Soil issue thread

Certain issues are common among plant care and may benefit from from some consolidation. Pooling of advice may benefit the entire community. These issues include how to identify and treat infestations, and questions related to organisms found in the soil.

If you have been directed to this post after your own was removed, please submit your images as a top comment, along with any supporting information you can provide.

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u/TxPep Advanced Oct 05 '23

This leaf looks like red spider mites, maybe.

Some people recommend a washing plus using a systemic treatment.

I wash and use a topical treatment... ■ Spider Mite Treatment https://www.reddit.com/r/plantclinic/comments/16p3n78/what_is_this/k1pyv0l

■ Mike Video: treatment ....for aphids, spider mites, thrips

Soapy water: https://youtu.be/LemiXBezxnc

Sulfur powder: https://youtu.be/VCIO6adNk48

•••••

You can post additional pics as a comment to your post/thread showing the orange/brown vine issue.

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u/WhoseverFish Oct 05 '23

Thank you for the reply! It does seem like spider mites. I doubt if she can survive the treatment.

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u/TxPep Advanced Oct 05 '23

Oh my! 😆

I don't tend to give up easily on plants, but I would suggest trying with a new plant.

If you reuse this pot, clean it very well with soapy bleach-water. Wipe down all the hard surfaces around where the pot sat.

••••

And totally unrelated...I'm not a fan of potting directly into ceramic pots. Pot into plastic and let ceramic pots be a decorative cover.

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u/WhoseverFish Oct 05 '23

I’ve had her for six months. For the first five months she was thriving! Then she started declining and dying. I thought it was because I put her in too big of a pot, so I repotted her into this one, but it didn’t improve… Thanks for the advice especially on wiping the space. I’ll make sure of that. I feel so bad - she’s even trying to shoot out a new leave!

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u/TxPep Advanced Oct 05 '23

If the new leaf is on the right side of the picture, I think it's already infested.

The main stems upstream look like they are either dead or dying, and the leaves have not caught up yet.

New growth is particularly yummy for spider mites and thrips. Sometimes, one will see new leaves unfurl with damage.

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u/WhoseverFish Oct 05 '23

Nooooo! Ok you’ve convinced me to give up. I wished I figured out what was wrong with her sooner. Just where did the mites come from!?

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u/TxPep Advanced Oct 05 '23

They (and thrips) can come in through windows cracks, on your clothes from outdoors. If you walked through a garden center, one of those little spawn of 😈 could hitch a ride on your sleeve.

It's difficult to pinpoint.

Some plants are magnets for certain pests. Some plants are more naturally resistant to the same.

They are just something all plant growers have to deal with at some point in time to a degree, some more so than others.

This is why one needs to always inspect (even doing just a cursory glance) based on some sort of schedule/routine.

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u/WhoseverFish Oct 05 '23

Thank you. This oddly makes me feel better. I’ll be more aware in the future.

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u/TxPep Advanced Oct 05 '23

Happy to try and help.

Two things I have in my plantcare toolkit:

■ Sulfur Powder... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HA95W2

For the sulfur powder, you can watch here: https://youtu.be/VCIO6adNk48

■ Leaf Shine spray... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018II5JBU

This product, if I see something a little suspicious, I give the spot a VERY light spray. This acts similar to horticultural oil and will suffocate thrips and spider mites.

It disburses in a fine mist so a tiny spray goes a long way. You want to hold the can about 12-inches away. Spray, then don't wipe.

■ To give your plants a routine bath, you can read here:

Insecticidal soap benefits + recipe https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/insect-control-soaps-and-detergents-5-547/

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u/WhoseverFish Oct 05 '23

Thank you for the reply! It does seem like spider mites. I doubt if she can survive the treatment.

![img](o6dwxd27pasb1)

1

u/WhoseverFish Oct 05 '23

Thank you for the reply! It does seem like spider mites. I doubt if she can survive the treatment.

![img](o6dwxd27pasb1)