Pests/Ctrl HELP Houseplant with Spider Mites

[packyderms_wife]

My Swedish Ivy appears to have spider mites, I think. Its suddenly looking bad, and there's this web like crap around it.

I'll try to get photos tomorrow but I think it might be spider mites, what do I use to treat my ivy?

TIA

 

[naturallysweet]

Put it in the shower and hose them off.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Put it in the shower and hose them off.

It's a HUGE plant and I mean seriously huge!

 

[naturallysweet]

Pesticides are discouraged, because they have developed a resistance. Try a horticultural oil or neem oil.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Pesticides are discouraged, because they have developed a resistance. Try a horticultural oil or neem oil.

I have neem oil, does it need to be diluted? Also would dawn dishwashing liquid diluted in water work?

 

[Vicki]

I'd use the Neem oil on the plant and the soil. It should say on the bottle if it's concentrated or ready for use. If you're not sure, dilute it and repeat spraying it every few days for up to a week. It should work.

I came here to tell my greenhouse is still surprising me. I walked in yesterday to a couple of three to four inch Calendula flower heads blooming and have small tomatoes still producing. There's no heat in there but the temp was 52 degrees with no sun. The kale and lettuce looks wonderful and the broccoli is still putting out small heads. Amazing how all the herbs are still flourishing too. parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, etc. Oh.. also have a lemon tree still out there with two to three inches of new growth. That I may bring in the house if the temps drop further. I wanted to get some pictures before I wrote this but haven't done so yet.

 

[packyderms_wife]

I'd use the Neem oil on the plant and the soil. It should say on the bottle if it's concentrated or ready for use. If you're not sure, dilute it and repeat spraying it every few days for up to a week. It should work.

I came here to tell my greenhouse is still surprising me. I walked in yesterday to a couple of three to four inch Calendula flower heads blooming and have small tomatoes still producing. There's no heat in there but the temp was 52 degrees with no sun. The kale and lettuce looks wonderful and the broccoli is still putting out small heads. Amazing how all the herbs are still flourishing too. parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, etc. Oh.. also have a lemon tree still out there with two to three inches of new growth. That I may bring in the house if the temps drop further. I wanted to get some pictures before I wrote this but haven't done so yet.

Would love to see your greenhouse! Thanks for the info on the neem oil, will give it a whirl.

 

[Rabbit]

I don't know if you want to chance it or not, but what I've used for aphids on my tomato plants before, without harm, is a weak solution of alcohol and water in a spray bottle.

 

[Gardener]

I'd be careful about using Dawn as it is a detergent, not a soap. Detergents can remove the cuticle layer on the leaves and cause them to burn in the sun. Insecticidal soap should work well on spider mites if you can get good coverage on the plant. (I know spider mites aren't insects, but the insecticidal soaps work because it dries the spider mites out.)

 

[big kumara]

Throw it away before it infects the rest of your plants. If you must keep it, cut it back to one node above soil level and treat that. Large foliage plants are difficult to treat and no matter what you use, the best you can hope for is suppression of the mites.