Does anyone else have the problem that as soon as it gets warmer and
sunnier red spider mites attack their lemon trees? I only have one
viable spot in my flat for the trees. This is a window niche in the
living room next to the sofa so I'd rather not use the oil-based
deterrent I was recommended, nor poison sprays. I regularly spray the
trees with water and sometimes lug them under the shower. This sort
of keeps the mites under control but doesn't eliminate them. These
lemons were two of the first things I ever grew from pips so I hate
things harming them.
I'd be really grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks

Deborah

In article , Deborah P.
writes
Does anyone else have the problem that as soon as it gets warmer and
sunnier red spider mites attack their lemon trees?

Yes - not just on lemons. Sometimes I believe they're capable of
spontaneous regeneration ;-)

I only have one
viable spot in my flat for the trees. This is a window niche in the
living room next to the sofa so I'd rather not use the oil-based
deterrent I was recommended, nor poison sprays. I regularly spray the
trees with water and sometimes lug them under the shower. This sort
of keeps the mites under control but doesn't eliminate them. These
lemons were two of the first things I ever grew from pips so I hate
things harming them.
I'd be really grateful for any suggestions.

Try the predator, available from a number of companies - Google on "red
spider" biological.
It works, but not quickly - at first you think it has failed, but a few
weeks later you realise you don't seem to have a red spider problem any
more.

You'd still be able to mist the plants to keep the humidity up and deter
red spider, but it would be best not to put them under the shower else
you'd wash the predator off too. And you wouldn't be able to pesticides
(which you don't want to) or soap solutions.

--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

Kay Easton wrote:
In article , Deborah P.
writes

Does anyone else have the problem that as soon as it gets warmer and
sunnier red spider mites attack their lemon trees?


Yes - not just on lemons. Sometimes I believe they're capable of
spontaneous regeneration ;-)


snip
Try the predator, available from a number of companies - Google on "red
spider" biological.
It works, but not quickly - at first you think it has failed, but a few
weeks later you realise you don't seem to have a red spider problem any
more.

You'd still be able to mist the plants to keep the humidity up and deter
red spider, but it would be best not to put them under the shower else
you'd wash the predator off too. And you wouldn't be able to pesticides
(which you don't want to) or soap solutions.

That sounds like a great idea. Thank you. I just have one question which
you'll probably find daft but still I can't get it out of my head. What
happens to the predators when they've eaten all the spider mites?

In article , Deborah P.
writes
snip
Try the predator, available from a number of companies - Google on "red
spider" biological.
It works, but not quickly - at first you think it has failed, but a few
weeks later you realise you don't seem to have a red spider problem any
more.

You'd still be able to mist the plants to keep the humidity up and deter
red spider, but it would be best not to put them under the shower else
you'd wash the predator off too. And you wouldn't be able to pesticides
(which you don't want to) or soap solutions.

That sounds like a great idea. Thank you. I just have one question which
you'll probably find daft but still I can't get it out of my head. What
happens to the predators when they've eaten all the spider mites?

They starve.

So if you get more red spider later on, you'll have to buy in more
predator.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm

"Deborah P." wrote in message ...
Does anyone else have the problem that as soon as it gets warmer and
sunnier red spider mites attack their lemon trees? I only have one
viable spot in my flat for the trees. This is a window niche in the
living room next to the sofa so I'd rather not use the oil-based
deterrent I was recommended, nor poison sprays. I regularly spray the
trees with water and sometimes lug them under the shower. This sort
of keeps the mites under control but doesn't eliminate them. These
lemons were two of the first things I ever grew from pips so I hate
things harming them.
I'd be really grateful for any suggestions.


Is there nowhere you can put them outside for the summer? Mine have all been
out for a month now against a S. facing house wall, never any sign of Red
Spider Mite.
Really perks them up, their summer holiday.

--
Regards
Bob

Some photos of my plants at.....

"Deborah P." wrote in message
...
Does anyone else have the problem that as soon as it gets warmer and
sunnier red spider mites attack their lemon trees? I only have one
viable spot in my flat for the trees. This is a window niche in the
living room next to the sofa so I'd rather not use the oil-based
deterrent I was recommended, nor poison sprays. I regularly spray the
trees with water and sometimes lug them under the shower. This sort
of keeps the mites under control but doesn't eliminate them. These
lemons were two of the first things I ever grew from pips so I hate
things harming them.
I'd be really grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks

Deborah

Depending on the size of the plant you might like to try keeping them in a
terrarium type thingy for a while. Makes it very easy to keep the humidity
very high, which the mites certainly hate. Might (no pun intended) be enough
to keep them away.

It certainly works well when I put some plants in my pineaple house which
is, in turn, inside the greenhouse.

Duncan