Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: hermon on January 06, 2008, 11:55

Title: red spider mite?
Post by: hermon on January 06, 2008, 11:55

i have a lemon tree inside at the moment and i am sure it has red spider mite, the leaves are falling off and there are tiny webs near where the leaves meet the stems also when i wipe the leaves i am getting a rust colour on the cloth, how do i get rid of this as its killing my plant :(

Title: red spider mite?
Post by: Aunt Sally on January 06, 2008, 14:21

I'm suprised if you are having a problem at this time of year, or is it a problem left over from the summer ?

This might help you:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0601/red_spider_mite.asp

Title: red spider mite?
Post by: fletch on January 06, 2008, 15:17

I grow quite a few exotic plants and when I bring them in for the winter they sometimes get the dreaded red spider mite  :evil:
They love hot dry conditions (like our centrally heated houses). I have taken the risk before and put the plant(s) outside as the cool and damp slows the breeding cycle down. Obviously you don't want to risk losing your plant if the weather is very cold or freezing though.

Other than that, wiping them all off and a cooler room with regular misting will definitely help and I would definitely put your lemon tree outdoors for the summer (which you probably do anyway).

There is also a biololgical control, but I have never used it, I believe they are quite expensive.

Title: red spider mite?
Post by: hermon on January 07, 2008, 09:38

it sounds as if i was doing the right thing then, i will put the plant out in the day(not if it's frosty) and i wipe the leaves a lot it does look better.

thank everyone :wink: