I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.


--
Art
Swap seeds and plants and visit many specialist garden forums at
Garden Web http://www.gardenweb.com
My Garden Web exchange page http://www.gardenweb.com/members/exch/art1952
European Pages http://www.uk.gardenweb.com/

In article , Carol Russell Russells@q
ueenborough42.freeserve.co.uk writes
I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.

Stick the plant out in the rain for a few months, and, if that doesn't
work, throw it away. I long since lost the battle. I suppose growing the
same individual plants for 15-45 years all together in the same
greenhouse is asking for trouble.

I'm wondering about using the biological control in the greenhouse.
--
Kay Easton

Edward's earthworm page:
http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/garden/

"Carol wrote in message
I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.


I think "Polysect" is still available.

--
Bob

www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in
Runnymede fighting for it's existence.

In article , Carol Russell Russells@q
ueenborough42.freeserve.co.uk writes
I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.

They can't stand cold water. If you can fine spray affected plants with
chilled water, the aphids will soon go away. The only snag is that very
often tender plants don't like being treated that way either.
--
Alan & Joan Gould - North Lincs.

"Carol Russell" wrote in message
...
I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.


--
Art
Swap seeds and plants and visit many specialist garden forums at
Garden Web http://www.gardenweb.com
My Garden Web exchange page http://www.gardenweb.com/members/exch/art1952
European Pages http://www.uk.gardenweb.com/


A "fatty acid" spray worked well for my conservatory palms this summer.
Sorry that I can't tell you the exact make but She Who Must Never Be
Critiscised went berserk and used it all up on her boring flowery things.

Mike

Carol Russell wrote:

I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.

Which one ? Dimethoate will work, but has become increasingly hard to find.
It is nasty and I will only use it on greenhouse ornamentals (and never on
plants in the house).

Malathion will work upto a point but is not systemic (OK for point and shoot
though).

You have to alternate between at least two insecticides with rsm or they will
gain immunity. Synthetic pyrethrums or soft soap makes for a plausible
alternative control, but you will never eliminate it with them.

I think there are still a couple of licenced products that will take on red
spider in the UK. Try
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile...pider_mite.asp

Regards,
Martin Brown

On Tue, 17 Dec 2002 17:17:48 +0000, Kay Easton
wrote:

I'm wondering about using the biological control in the greenhouse.

I've used the predator mites. No trouble, they'll do all the work for
you. They do like more humid and warmer conditions than the rsm.

I set up an extra closed box with bean plants, grew rsm on those, and
then set out the predator mites on those first. It takes some time for
them to multiply, but then they go all over the place, leaving the
box, seeking out the rsm everywhere and devouring them. I spent hours
with a magnifying glass, watching them...

With individual plants, submerging them for 24 hours in a tubful of
water with a splash of detergent has worked for me.

Thomas Prufer

Kay Easton wrote:

Stick the plant out in the rain for a few months, and, if that doesn't
work, throw it away. I long since lost the battle.

Some plants are magnets for rsm.

I suppose growing the same individual plants for 15-45 years all together in
the same
greenhouse is asking for trouble.

I'm wondering about using the biological control in the greenhouse.

It works provided it is warm and humid enough for them to breed up. The
greenhouse needs to be pretty well clean of insecticide traces though.
Predators otherwise get killed by eating too many poisonous prey.

They tend to go into population balance with some oscillations so that there
is a small residual infection but not enough to scar leaves too much. They
don't overwinter as well as the rsm so you may need to restock. And in really
warm summers they go off out of the greenhouse in search of better pickings
after they have devoured most of the rsm. That was my experience YMMV

Regards,
Martin Brown

On Thu, 19 Dec 2002 00:38:43 -0000, "Carol Russell"
wrote:

Many thanks for all responses, there are some ideas there that I will try.
On a light hearted note --- as RSM are so quick to become immune does the
group think that drowning the little buggers by the Thomas Prufer method
means that they will learn to swim !!!!.

At least they'll be clean after a bath.

Thomas Prufer

On Tue, 17 Dec 2002 10:16:03 -0000, "Carol Russell"
wrote:

I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.

I have just sprayed my sweet potato plants that I rooted, which were
smothered with RSM, also some busy lizzie cuttings, with Ultimate Bug
Killer. I am awaiting results.
Cheers
Pam

Bristol

use dursban

On Fri, 20 Dec 2002 21:50:10 +0000, Pam Moore
wrote:

On Tue, 17 Dec 2002 10:16:03 -0000, "Carol Russell"
wrote:

I'm devastated, the last red spider mite systemic insecticide known to me
has been discontinued. So how does the group deal with RSM.

I have just sprayed my sweet potato plants that I rooted, which were
smothered with RSM, also some busy lizzie cuttings, with Ultimate Bug
Killer. I am awaiting results.
Cheers
Pam

Bristol