The demise of a brugmansia

I have been battling with red spider mites for a year now. This is the effect they have had on a brug I started from seed last September.


18th March.


24th March.


1st April.



The other two are OK...so far.

 

Terrible things Red spider, The only pest that really bother me.
The only thing that keeps it down as far as I'm concerned is the preditors, but I dont have much problem in the winter.
Soon have to start ordering them now though.
Just a thought Rich, I suppose the white fly dont get a look in. :D

 

No sign of whitefly or any aphids at this time of year. Definitely RSM, I pull their webs off every evening after spraying them with plain water. This makes the easier to see and does them no good.

I've also sprayed them with Provado which works on most things, but not RSM.

I shall try the preditors, but have been waiting for the right time of year. I have a greenhouse containing about 50 daturas so when they've grown up a bit I'll order them, probably next week.

 

50 daturas? you must have some space to grow that lot on.
You need to make sure you've not used any chemicals for a certain period before intoducing the preditors, so perhaps its best not to use the provado again.

 

Next month I'll be planting some of them out in the garden. I had quite a show last year.

Then there are boot fairs, and everyone who comes to my house goes home with some....

 

I'll be round then. :D
Were talking Daturas now not Bugmansias?
What kinds have you got?
I noticed red spider in my conservatory today, its early for me, I'll have to get on to "Defenders" some time soon before they get out of hand. :(

 

We have RSM in places and find it almost impossible to completely irradicate likewise with mealybug. Unfortunately they one of those plants that seems to be targeted like Crotons. My Ravenala has some spider (and ants)and very few chemicals have any lasting effect. :(

 

Strongy, some years ago I was given, by a friend something called "Torque", it was made by ICI at that time. It was amazing against RSM and even used it on my cucumbers, but it was only available to the trade so to speak, have you come across it.

 

yep, used it some years ago but there was some resistance built up after a time, a few years I mean. Spraying oil has been partially effective but not too good if it gets into the soil in any quantity. Spider is a real pest(an extremely poor pun). :D

 

Ah so its not much use now then, whats the oil?

 

Single white
Double white
Triple white
Fleur le lilac
Double purples

plus all the brugs.

My avitar is a triple white, it starts off as yellow then changes to white.

 

Pete, I think Torque is now banned along with many other chemicals that I used to use.
The oil is a thick white emulsion we have used to spray for stubborn pests such as mealy bug and spider but the ammonia is quite strong and tend not to use that either.

 

Thanks strongy, dont like the sound of that oil much, pity about the Torque, but then if the've become resistant I suppose it doesn't matter.

Rich, you've got quite a collection there, I've grown the fleur lilac one, and it self seeds itself all over my allotment :D

 

Might be worth trying neem oil. It can upset some plants though and aparently its better to lower the light levels and keep them a bit cooler than otherwise to reduce the need for transpiration through leaves for a few days after spraying.

 

I've put the three worst affected ones outside, this rain will do them some good, not sure about the night time temperatures though.