Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Hawkins on February 01, 2009, 21:34

Title: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: Hawkins on February 01, 2009, 21:34
I have I think red spider mite on my citrus tree. It is a pot in the conservatory. its like a grey mottling on the leaves and there appears to be web like things on the main stem.

1. is it mites
2. how do I get rid of it

any advice please.

Thanks
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: vegikev on February 01, 2009, 22:01
hi . is the webbing like cotton wool? red spider mite tend to make the leaves brown not grey
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: Hawkins on February 01, 2009, 22:02
yes its like cotton wool
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: vegikev on February 01, 2009, 22:07
woolly aphid is my bet. brush off the 'cotton wool'  with a toothbrush and methylated spirit. that should sort it.
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: Hawkins on February 01, 2009, 22:14
brilliant thanks, will do it first thing tomorrow.
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: woodburner on February 01, 2009, 23:05
woolly aphid is my bet. brush off the 'cotton wool'  with a toothbrush and methylated spirit. that should sort it.
Cotton buds (and meths) are your friend?
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: Hawkins on February 03, 2009, 17:46
had a better look and they dont look like little balls of cotton wool, the webs look like cotton wool, lots of threads. I have cleaned them all of and wiped all the leaves, I will keep a close eye and see how it goes.
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on February 03, 2009, 21:42
I had loads of problems with scale insects on my citrus and less of a problem with red spidermites. In the end despite being organic for everything else when for a systemic bug killer (sorry can't remember which, just got it from B and Q) to blast them as they were a nightmare to eradicate and kept coming back and were really killing the plants.

Summer is much better when they can be outside.
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: Hawkins on February 06, 2009, 09:05
I bought some Diatom to sprinkle around the chicken house and it says on the instructions can be used for mites on trees. Bonus.
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: kennykoala on February 06, 2009, 22:03
g,day need to spray all over plant with white oil.1 cup vegatable oil half cup washing up detergent mix in blender,then add 2 tablespoon of mix to a litre of water,goodluck seeya.
Title: Re: red spider mite on citrus tree
Post by: sunshineband on February 07, 2009, 18:49
I have had scale and wooly aphis staff on my lemon trees this year and found the easiet thin was wiping them off with a cotton bud dipped in washin up liquid, then sraying the tree with dilute washing up liquid, followed by clean water. Worked. Careful none go on the soin as the little b*****s seem so climb back again, or hang on at the bottom of the trunk.