Red spider mite on miniature roses

I love those little miniature roses you see in supermarkets and places. They look so darling and, from time to time, I have bought one. BUT they have never lasted more than a few weeks. No matter what I do, how I treat them, they curl up their toes and die.

My latest attempt has lasted even less time than usual even though, like all the others, it looked robust and healthy when I bought it. Anyone got any suggestions what it might be and what I can do about it? If this rose even salvageable still?



When I just looked at this last image in preview, I saw all those little bits in the web so I went back and examined them with a magnifying glass - and yes, they are little spidermites!

Now what do I do?

[ 26. October 2007, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Daisees ]

 

So - what I did was to Google some answers! I found this website and followed the instructions which was to first take off all the dead and obviously infected foliage, then to spray thoroughly with clean water, giving it a thorough soaking all over. Then later I shall spray it with and insecticide.

I'll let you know how it does.

 

RSM can be a real pain to defeat. We tend to get it on plants in our sun porch and on the cucumbers in the GH. The best control I've found is to use phytoseiulus as a biological control. It's a bit expensive bit it works a treat.
I've tried it out doors on a brugmansia but conditions were too cool for the predators to survive.

http://www.greengardener.co.uk/rsm.htm

 

Thanks, Dave! Seems to me that anything to do with roses is a toughie!

 

Hi Daisees. I once lost a valuable baby palm to these little beauties. I saved the others by simply washing them in a weak soap solution. Crude, but it worked. Funnily enough, if the infected plant is outside then spraying with normal fly killer a couple of times, a week apart, helps as well. I'm all for biological control, but, as Dave says, it can be a mite (pun intended) expensive.

 

Daisees, I agree with all thats been said.
What I would do with that particular plant is cut it hard back a put it outside for the winter.
Then when it starts to bud up about next may bring it back in while the flowers last, then cut back and start the process over again.
That way you will get two good flowerings from it next year, hopefully without too much RSM problems.
Probably a repot in JI no3 early next spring as well.
Thats what I did with a couple of plants this year and it worked fine.

 

Hi, Daisees. I too love the miniature roses and have many of them, some brought over from England and the rest bought here.

I must say, one I have, Sunseeker an 18in patio miniature (bought from B&Q) is now over 6 foot high since I put it in the ground. It was a miniature for years in a pot.

The only problem I seem to have is black spot, which I also get on my other roses.

Fortunately, I don't think I have RSM here. They are still not very good here with chemical remedies for ailments/diseases/etc but I would prefer to use natural remedies if at all possible.

 

Hi Daisees, am I right in thinking you`ve got this rose growing indoors? In my limited experience, I have found that growing plants that are primarily outdoor plants indoors usually ends in failure. I think I`m right in saying that RSM likes a dry atmosphere in which case you`ve given the little blighters a head start! Hopefully, If this is not the case, someone can put me straight. Cheers...freddy.

 

Oh - I thought the minis were inside plants!! Shame! shame! Guess I'll have to find a place for them outside. Rats!