Hi, my lovely Greggers. Please send love and strength. O...
Hi, my lovely Greggers. Please send love and strength. Or, if that's not your thing, a bottle of a good single malt will do as well, I'm not picky.
Mites.
False spider mites.
With big hoya collection, after having moved plants around everywhere.
And maybe having spotted some signs of virused plants as well (please, please, no )
Need I say more?
I could really kick myself for my hybris here. (So maybe forget the whisky, transatlantic kicks from all of you would maybe be more appropriate.
I've noticed signs of the infestation for a long time now. But every time, I checked the plants I suspected, (seemingly) diligently. With my more practical magnifying app/glass. Nothing. additionally, I had high trust in my seller, had a comfortably established rest predatory mite population in some pots and am absolutely pedantic about quarantine (which, of course, is basically useless if you don't see/ acknowledge the problem when it presents during that time).
Can any of you give a better example for false confidence?
I even traded some plants recently, so I even checked those particular ones diligently (I thought).
Now I noticed signs of weird dechlorinated leaves spreading, which before I had attributed to a nutrient deficiency. Virus? Nah. Where would that have come from on my absolutely treasured bella PES-03. I've had her for v long, I never share water, no signs of pests, so no plant sap exchange.
...
...
Again, feel free to kick me. Anytime.
Yesterday I saw signs of those spots on other plants where the deficiency theory makes no sense, got freaked out and finally took out my jewelers loupe. Because logic hasn't failed me completely. if spread of virus, then sap transfer. If sap transfer, then pests (in my case). And if undetected pests then a) pests tiiiiiiny and b) I'm truly fuuuuuu.... well, you know. Fundamentally angry with myself.
Gosh, those things are tiny. Undetectable by best magnification my very solid glasses could offer. Even after I knew where to look because I could just make them out with the jewelers loupe. I think part of the reason for my false confidence was my experience with broad mites and some flat mites on a tomato plant a while back. With my glasses on both of those could be spotted with the magnifiers. The tiny bit the broad mites are bigger, made all the difference. And even the flat mite seemed to be a softly bigger species, so that the stark contrasting red dot could be spotted.
This time? Nah.
And to give me a great start fighting this problem: I planned to get up early to get myself a truckload of predatory mites before work, but I overslept after a sleepless night. Maybe I'll manage tomorrow. Or not. Things have been stressful as is.
If you've followed this rant along this far, thanks. I needed to vent. Don't forget to send virtual kicks.
I will deceptively attach a picture of a rose because a) hoyas make me sad rn, b) I don't think you would appreciate a huge flat mite picture in your feed c) that rose was gorgeous and d) who cares, I myself can't see it anyway. For me, Greg's been completely without pictures for a while now. Again.
#pestcontrol #hoya #hoyahangout #mitesarestupid #sadplant #formitessake
Mites.
False spider mites.
With big hoya collection, after having moved plants around everywhere.
And maybe having spotted some signs of virused plants as well (please, please, no )
Need I say more?
I could really kick myself for my hybris here. (So maybe forget the whisky, transatlantic kicks from all of you would maybe be more appropriate.
I've noticed signs of the infestation for a long time now. But every time, I checked the plants I suspected, (seemingly) diligently. With my more practical magnifying app/glass. Nothing. additionally, I had high trust in my seller, had a comfortably established rest predatory mite population in some pots and am absolutely pedantic about quarantine (which, of course, is basically useless if you don't see/ acknowledge the problem when it presents during that time).
Can any of you give a better example for false confidence?
I even traded some plants recently, so I even checked those particular ones diligently (I thought).
Now I noticed signs of weird dechlorinated leaves spreading, which before I had attributed to a nutrient deficiency. Virus? Nah. Where would that have come from on my absolutely treasured bella PES-03. I've had her for v long, I never share water, no signs of pests, so no plant sap exchange.
...
...
Again, feel free to kick me. Anytime.
Yesterday I saw signs of those spots on other plants where the deficiency theory makes no sense, got freaked out and finally took out my jewelers loupe. Because logic hasn't failed me completely. if spread of virus, then sap transfer. If sap transfer, then pests (in my case). And if undetected pests then a) pests tiiiiiiny and b) I'm truly fuuuuuu.... well, you know. Fundamentally angry with myself.
Gosh, those things are tiny. Undetectable by best magnification my very solid glasses could offer. Even after I knew where to look because I could just make them out with the jewelers loupe. I think part of the reason for my false confidence was my experience with broad mites and some flat mites on a tomato plant a while back. With my glasses on both of those could be spotted with the magnifiers. The tiny bit the broad mites are bigger, made all the difference. And even the flat mite seemed to be a softly bigger species, so that the stark contrasting red dot could be spotted.
This time? Nah.
And to give me a great start fighting this problem: I planned to get up early to get myself a truckload of predatory mites before work, but I overslept after a sleepless night. Maybe I'll manage tomorrow. Or not. Things have been stressful as is.
If you've followed this rant along this far, thanks. I needed to vent. Don't forget to send virtual kicks.
I will deceptively attach a picture of a rose because a) hoyas make me sad rn, b) I don't think you would appreciate a huge flat mite picture in your feed c) that rose was gorgeous and d) who cares, I myself can't see it anyway. For me, Greg's been completely without pictures for a while now. Again.
#pestcontrol #hoya #hoyahangout #mitesarestupid #sadplant #formitessake
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@MusicalRedmint I’m SO fuuuu…undamentally sorry to hear this! Sending positive mite-ass-kicking vibes your way 💪
@debbiedo thank you. As long as it's "only" the mites, I'll try to be optimistic. With my high humidity I should be able to at least control the population using the beneficials. (Though I'm not sure I'll get rid of them completely, because I'm not sure I want to pay for several repeat treatments just in case. And there will be no way to check every leaf for remnants.)
My big big fear is the virus. If it is indeed one, then I already will have to ditch plants worth close to 100€ (and lots and lots of love). Probably more, because it can stay asymptomatic for a while.
But regardless of exactly the acknowledgement above that my denial was a big part of the problem, I'm still forcing myself to not jump to the final conclusion. The dechlorinated spots in question don't look like any more damage and I cannot spot any abrasions that would explain it. But maybe still? Maybe those specific leaves somehow reacted differently to the little literal suckers? And the mites on those plants are artistically inclined, going for beautiful mosaic shapes and circle patterns on their feeding spots?
Anywhooo, I keep babbling, helps me to avoid addressing the problem. 😅
Thanks for the concern, though you might have misunderstood the direction the kicks were supposed to go. Tbh the mites were only mite-ing. And once the reinforcements arrive, they will need to enter the rink anyway. I'm only sad, I won't be able to watch the games this time around. The broad mites last time were big enough, I could literally watch the fights. Which, truth be told, was very cathartic.
My big big fear is the virus. If it is indeed one, then I already will have to ditch plants worth close to 100€ (and lots and lots of love). Probably more, because it can stay asymptomatic for a while.
But regardless of exactly the acknowledgement above that my denial was a big part of the problem, I'm still forcing myself to not jump to the final conclusion. The dechlorinated spots in question don't look like any more damage and I cannot spot any abrasions that would explain it. But maybe still? Maybe those specific leaves somehow reacted differently to the little literal suckers? And the mites on those plants are artistically inclined, going for beautiful mosaic shapes and circle patterns on their feeding spots?
Anywhooo, I keep babbling, helps me to avoid addressing the problem. 😅
Thanks for the concern, though you might have misunderstood the direction the kicks were supposed to go. Tbh the mites were only mite-ing. And once the reinforcements arrive, they will need to enter the rink anyway. I'm only sad, I won't be able to watch the games this time around. The broad mites last time were big enough, I could literally watch the fights. Which, truth be told, was very cathartic.
@MusicalRedmint no kicks from me Susann. We've ALL been there, so try not to beat yourself up too much! It's one of those "live and learn" type things. Or one of those "hindsight is 20/20" type things. I don't know of any plant person who caught on early they were dealing with pests the first time around. It's damn near impossible to spot the signs unless you've already been there and done that, especially with the teeny tiny pests that are so difficult to see. Your plants will be fine until you're able to get the predatory mites. In the meantime, here's a virtual single malt to kick back and enjoy while the mites do their thing 🥃
@MusicalRedmint I’m intentionally sending my kicks to the mites and virus and NOT to you ☺️ @stephongreg is so right that we’ve ALL been there: missing the early warning signs, not seeing what we didn’t want to see, or flat out ignoring what we know we saw 👀
If it’s not too depressing, I’d like to see the damage so that I can better learn what to watch for ❤️📝
If it’s not too depressing, I’d like to see the damage so that I can better learn what to watch for ❤️📝
@stephongreg thank you for the kind words. Sadly, the kicks are non-negotiable in my case, though.
That's exactly my point: I *did* spot the signs. Several times over. On several plants on several distinct occasions. And each time, my mind, seeing the signs, immediately went to "oh no. So i have flat mites? Broad mites? Better check, it definitely looks like them". I knew.
But I couldn't be bothered to dust off the correct tool and maybe squint through a lens for two minutes to confirm. And additionally to that laziness, I even used the spot-checks I *did* do with knowingly inferior tools to tell myself: "hmm. It walks like a duck, it quacks like a duck, soooo, because when I looked at it at night without glasses and it didn't look like a duck, it probably isn't." I then spent a lot of effort finding out what animals in the world walk and quack and swim like ducks, but aren't, in fact, ducks. You know, because somehow, those duck-like things kept appearing. 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️so, yes, kicks are very much in order.
However, in lieu of those well-deserved kicks, I will take that whisky for now. It is appreciated and very much necessary after my conversation with my predatory mite dealer. Apparently i will have to get new ones that might also go for my beloved and trusted cucumeris mites. Which I hate. They don't deserve that after all they have c done for me. I feel like a monster. Maybe I can try to save some and culture them myself? (You know, because that is, what I need right now. Another side project 🤦♀️)
Regardless: 🥃 thanks for the drink (why the ice, though? I think i need to talk to the emoji people 🤬 big emoji seems to also need some kicking). and thanks again for the words of encouragement.
That's exactly my point: I *did* spot the signs. Several times over. On several plants on several distinct occasions. And each time, my mind, seeing the signs, immediately went to "oh no. So i have flat mites? Broad mites? Better check, it definitely looks like them". I knew.
But I couldn't be bothered to dust off the correct tool and maybe squint through a lens for two minutes to confirm. And additionally to that laziness, I even used the spot-checks I *did* do with knowingly inferior tools to tell myself: "hmm. It walks like a duck, it quacks like a duck, soooo, because when I looked at it at night without glasses and it didn't look like a duck, it probably isn't." I then spent a lot of effort finding out what animals in the world walk and quack and swim like ducks, but aren't, in fact, ducks. You know, because somehow, those duck-like things kept appearing. 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️so, yes, kicks are very much in order.
However, in lieu of those well-deserved kicks, I will take that whisky for now. It is appreciated and very much necessary after my conversation with my predatory mite dealer. Apparently i will have to get new ones that might also go for my beloved and trusted cucumeris mites. Which I hate. They don't deserve that after all they have c done for me. I feel like a monster. Maybe I can try to save some and culture them myself? (You know, because that is, what I need right now. Another side project 🤦♀️)
Regardless: 🥃 thanks for the drink (why the ice, though? I think i need to talk to the emoji people 🤬 big emoji seems to also need some kicking). and thanks again for the words of encouragement.
@MusicalRedmint aww…curse words. 🫠🫠😵💫🙈 🌬️🥃
Hey! My emoji doesn’t have any ice, here you go my dear, imagine it neat, and iceless while the world comes crashing down. ☄️
My hands are not quite woken up yet but, oh my goodness, I can only imagine one possible explanation. Your cucumeris mites have succumbed to pressure and have opened a cooperative inclusive art school, and they are accepting scholarships to any minute and hipster acarines with big hopes and dreams. They only need someone to believe in them, Susann. 💫 Are you THAT someone? 🥹✨
Hey! My emoji doesn’t have any ice, here you go my dear, imagine it neat, and iceless while the world comes crashing down. ☄️
My hands are not quite woken up yet but, oh my goodness, I can only imagine one possible explanation. Your cucumeris mites have succumbed to pressure and have opened a cooperative inclusive art school, and they are accepting scholarships to any minute and hipster acarines with big hopes and dreams. They only need someone to believe in them, Susann. 💫 Are you THAT someone? 🥹✨
@DreamMachine good morning Nadia. Don't you *dare* malign my cucumeris darlings. Even if said at school existed they'd probably go all digital (powered by solar) so as not to damage the c plants they've protected until now. And then maybe a particularly nasty Austrian flat mite came along, got rejected and want able to deal? So he gathered the others and systematically led them down a path that made them destroy everything.
Come to think of it, this does seem plausible after all.
Come to think of it, this does seem plausible after all.
@MusicalRedmint I do appreciate some mignified bugs now and then though 🤣 #underthelens Maybe I am just weird. Sorry to hear about your ifestation🥲 But never an opportunity without being able to learn something 😅
I have atm 1 plant with the tinyest spidermites I have ever seen. Usually I am able to spot them without the microscope, but not these ones🙈 Luckily I seem to have been able to keep it on just that one plant, but they don't want to go away either😅
I have atm 1 plant with the tinyest spidermites I have ever seen. Usually I am able to spot them without the microscope, but not these ones🙈 Luckily I seem to have been able to keep it on just that one plant, but they don't want to go away either😅
@MockingJay
Interesting. Though that might not be then, then. My high quality 4x magnifiers plus great lighting are doing nothing for them. I just checked again. One spot, two pictures. I saw 1(!) hazy red dot with the 4xs. One and only because of the dissing color. Jewelers loupe? That one dot only stood out because it was a particularly big egg pile. The whole area around it, however, was teeming with them eggs, mites, shed skins. I've learned some more this time as well, seeing some of them crammed and hiding in the damaged tissue as well.
Of course I don't know what kind of magnifying glasses you use, but unless it is significantly above 4x then, it might not be flat mites. Or of course it might just be a bigger species. Fingers crossed they don't spread, no matter what they are.
Btw: last time with the broad mites I got a bit unhinged during my unsuccessful never- ending fight and once posted a sketch of me s the queen of mites. So if you like mite pictures, maybe I can dust that one off. But real close ups? Nah. I don't mind bug pictures. Insects. Even solitary real spiders. But mite close-ups ? Nope. Not doing that to people😅.
I've noticed however, that at this point, I don't mind them myself anymore. At least not under my own lense. On the internet that's different. But even then, somehow, "my" mites I'm completely fine with now. Don't ask me why.
Interesting. Though that might not be then, then. My high quality 4x magnifiers plus great lighting are doing nothing for them. I just checked again. One spot, two pictures. I saw 1(!) hazy red dot with the 4xs. One and only because of the dissing color. Jewelers loupe? That one dot only stood out because it was a particularly big egg pile. The whole area around it, however, was teeming with them eggs, mites, shed skins. I've learned some more this time as well, seeing some of them crammed and hiding in the damaged tissue as well.
Of course I don't know what kind of magnifying glasses you use, but unless it is significantly above 4x then, it might not be flat mites. Or of course it might just be a bigger species. Fingers crossed they don't spread, no matter what they are.
Btw: last time with the broad mites I got a bit unhinged during my unsuccessful never- ending fight and once posted a sketch of me s the queen of mites. So if you like mite pictures, maybe I can dust that one off. But real close ups? Nah. I don't mind bug pictures. Insects. Even solitary real spiders. But mite close-ups ? Nope. Not doing that to people😅.
I've noticed however, that at this point, I don't mind them myself anymore. At least not under my own lense. On the internet that's different. But even then, somehow, "my" mites I'm completely fine with now. Don't ask me why.
@MusicalRedmint ahah😅 I think mine are just "ordinary" two-spotted spider-mites, they are just so much harder to spot this time than last time🙈 And I don't remember them having orange eggs/nymphs, but the adults looks kind of the same under the lens🙈
I don't have a great microscope, and I don't know how much it is able to magnify, but it does the job. (Also I am near-sighted and have a very good visual, so I am able to see many small things close-up with the naked eye that others can't 😅)
Here are some of my "close-ups". You are able to see the orange on two of the pictures, and the adults are about 1/2 the size of the adult on the last picture with 1 transculent egg.
I don't have a great microscope, and I don't know how much it is able to magnify, but it does the job. (Also I am near-sighted and have a very good visual, so I am able to see many small things close-up with the naked eye that others can't 😅)
Here are some of my "close-ups". You are able to see the orange on two of the pictures, and the adults are about 1/2 the size of the adult on the last picture with 1 transculent egg.
I'm sorry, I'm still without pictures, so you could have posted pictures yourself in a pink party hat and a bright green feather boa or of a screenshot of the beginning of a rick-roll.... and I would be none the wiser. no way for me to tell. If you don't mind, I'll go with the feather boss party hat visual. For today no more mites.
And sorry, I looked and can't find the sketch. It was a true work of art, though. Not unhinged at all.
And sorry, I looked and can't find the sketch. It was a true work of art, though. Not unhinged at all.
@MusicalRedmint oh I guess the green feather boa might be more appropriate for lifting the mood anyway🤣 So just stick with that visual, maybe add a pink flamingo🦩
Hoping your picture-problem gets resolved🤔
Fingers crossed for a mite-free future!!🦸♀️
Hoping your picture-problem gets resolved🤔
Fingers crossed for a mite-free future!!🦸♀️
@MusicalRedmint oh not at all! The cucumeris mites’ hearts were in the right place(s). Although your theory does seem a touch more realistic! Those pictures of the petiole intersection with the whiteish greyish corking like color are making me a little nervous though. I totally don’t need to go check a few hoyas… I’m sure it will all work out by itself…🫣🫣🫣
@MockingJay Veronika I’m sorry you are also dealing with mites! I just got a kids hand held 1000x microscope that I like ever so much more than that dang jewelers loupe. Plus, no more squinting. 😝 You can even get a memory card for it, if, for some reason, you want to save your pictures and have a happy little mite family photo album 🫠
@MockingJay Veronika I’m sorry you are also dealing with mites! I just got a kids hand held 1000x microscope that I like ever so much more than that dang jewelers loupe. Plus, no more squinting. 😝 You can even get a memory card for it, if, for some reason, you want to save your pictures and have a happy little mite family photo album 🫠
@DreamMachine: the theory would explain the amount of damage and their ability to open up several fronts. But it makes me slightly optimistic that there will be a good outcome once everybody will come together, organize, and unite against them.
Don't be instantly panicky. Some just have stems that get woody very soon (sry, forgot the correct English verb for that). Also, if the plant is often receiving slight mechanical damage at those spots (like, I don't know from a dog that uses the windowsill as his guard tower and regularly swiwels his head around while peeking through the bigger plants, oblivious of the damage this might do😅) then the constant movement of some stiffer petioles might crack them repeatedly in a way that might also show up like similar scarring. A friend told me. 😅
In any case, it's still good to look. Don't be like me and dismiss it.
I considered getting one of those kids things. But since I don't use Amazon and it's hard to correctly estimate which "microscope"s are the real deal and which are cheap yet overpriced toys, even on other sites/ shops, even among the (still affordable) more expensive ones, I just gave up. I didn't want to pay money for something, that lied to me and that effectively might lull me into false security.
Turned out well, of course. I might get one after all after doing years of research. 🤦♀️
Don't be instantly panicky. Some just have stems that get woody very soon (sry, forgot the correct English verb for that). Also, if the plant is often receiving slight mechanical damage at those spots (like, I don't know from a dog that uses the windowsill as his guard tower and regularly swiwels his head around while peeking through the bigger plants, oblivious of the damage this might do😅) then the constant movement of some stiffer petioles might crack them repeatedly in a way that might also show up like similar scarring. A friend told me. 😅
In any case, it's still good to look. Don't be like me and dismiss it.
I considered getting one of those kids things. But since I don't use Amazon and it's hard to correctly estimate which "microscope"s are the real deal and which are cheap yet overpriced toys, even on other sites/ shops, even among the (still affordable) more expensive ones, I just gave up. I didn't want to pay money for something, that lied to me and that effectively might lull me into false security.
Turned out well, of course. I might get one after all after doing years of research. 🤦♀️
@MusicalRedmint exactly 👏 They just need to join a good union.
I completely understand not shopping on amzn. I aim not to, as well, except sometimes my resolve cracks, in instances of panic, like when I found a damaged leaf on one of my newer hoyas last month. (It was a mite of some kind… but I didn’t find a single one on any other plant in the vicinity). For what it’s worth, this brand with a name comprised only of letters, BMDSAE, did give me a legit microscope 😂
I completely understand not shopping on amzn. I aim not to, as well, except sometimes my resolve cracks, in instances of panic, like when I found a damaged leaf on one of my newer hoyas last month. (It was a mite of some kind… but I didn’t find a single one on any other plant in the vicinity). For what it’s worth, this brand with a name comprised only of letters, BMDSAE, did give me a legit microscope 😂
@MockingJay
Finally, remembered I couldn't see your pictures before and lyrically could now 😅 and though I sadly miss the illusion of the green feather boa and the pink flamingo, those pictures of yours are terrific/terrifying close-ups of flat mites, indeed. Just in case you are wondering and want to treat. Flat mites are known to be a very effective vector for viruses and infections (especially if you also have fungus gnats or aphids at the same time, because they hitchhike through your whole collection unnoticed). And not every spider mite treatment is as effective for them, so it's good to know.
Did you really see them with the naked eye/ normal magnifying glasses? I'm impressed (or bad at text comprehension, if not). And do you know the model of your microscope? If you're aren't a particularly huge subspecies of flat mites, it does the job pretty well. And apparently I'm on the market for one now. 🙃
Finally, remembered I couldn't see your pictures before and lyrically could now 😅 and though I sadly miss the illusion of the green feather boa and the pink flamingo, those pictures of yours are terrific/terrifying close-ups of flat mites, indeed. Just in case you are wondering and want to treat. Flat mites are known to be a very effective vector for viruses and infections (especially if you also have fungus gnats or aphids at the same time, because they hitchhike through your whole collection unnoticed). And not every spider mite treatment is as effective for them, so it's good to know.
Did you really see them with the naked eye/ normal magnifying glasses? I'm impressed (or bad at text comprehension, if not). And do you know the model of your microscope? If you're aren't a particularly huge subspecies of flat mites, it does the job pretty well. And apparently I'm on the market for one now. 🙃
@DreamMachine sounds great. Maybe I will consider it after all. I might be looking it l into buying one despite my reservations. It might even come in handy soon because I might also have just bought some pollen, yeast and cotton pads to legit try to start a small swirskii mite culture and/or try to save some cucumeris stragglers for my next batches. So everything as usual in ADHD crazy town over here.
@MusicalRedmint I was actually able to see one grown up as it moved when I checked again yesterday without the microscope (spotted it with the microscope first).
And I did first notice I had them when I saw two orange spots moving around on a new leaf in February🙈 Found my microscope and concluded they were spider-mites (Although now after investigating I think you are right they are flatmites).
I haven't been as thorough as I should with the treatment.. as the mites were on a sensitive plant I didn't want to treat and risk loosing... but I got rid of them on the other plants nearby as far as I can see. Ofc I should just have bought rovemites like you but oh well😅
I have now been manually removing them from this last plant the last couple of days (yes that is me)🤣 And I think it is working, yesterday I found just 3 eggs and 1 adult. So fingers crossed.
Luckily not any aphids here, and I have traps for the fungus gnats and haven't seen any in a while😅 Last time I had actual spider-mites (before I knew anything about them) I am sure they used myself as the shuttlebus😅
I am adding a pic of my microscope. I got it through a subscription to a science-magasine a few years ago🤣 It connects wia wifi and an app called Max-see.
And I did first notice I had them when I saw two orange spots moving around on a new leaf in February🙈 Found my microscope and concluded they were spider-mites (Although now after investigating I think you are right they are flatmites).
I haven't been as thorough as I should with the treatment.. as the mites were on a sensitive plant I didn't want to treat and risk loosing... but I got rid of them on the other plants nearby as far as I can see. Ofc I should just have bought rovemites like you but oh well😅
I have now been manually removing them from this last plant the last couple of days (yes that is me)🤣 And I think it is working, yesterday I found just 3 eggs and 1 adult. So fingers crossed.
Luckily not any aphids here, and I have traps for the fungus gnats and haven't seen any in a while😅 Last time I had actual spider-mites (before I knew anything about them) I am sure they used myself as the shuttlebus😅
I am adding a pic of my microscope. I got it through a subscription to a science-magasine a few years ago🤣 It connects wia wifi and an app called Max-see.
Thanks for the picture. Wifi sounds great. I've read many complaining about the need for their devices' clunky USB connections. Probably out of the price range in going for, though.
And I'm going to get one. If only to be able to check if I'm only able to see the nymphs and the adults are hiding too well or if the species I have is truly this small this time around. Because I also remember a bigger one I once had on a tomato plant like I said. And that one because of the contrast I could also see with the naked eye. The adults, that is. I'm genuinely curious at this point.
And as I recall, they tend to avoid light. So maybe I'm just missing the adults.
Your aproach sounds wonderfully relatable to me. It's basically what I did with mealies back in the day. *but*: since the explosion of my hoya collection I'm deathly afraid of mealies coming back. Spot treat some orchids and one or two big-leaved hoyas over the course of some months? Maybe. Thoroughly searching even only two mature and bushy small leaved ones? Nope. No way that would be feasible.
And I'm going to get one. If only to be able to check if I'm only able to see the nymphs and the adults are hiding too well or if the species I have is truly this small this time around. Because I also remember a bigger one I once had on a tomato plant like I said. And that one because of the contrast I could also see with the naked eye. The adults, that is. I'm genuinely curious at this point.
And as I recall, they tend to avoid light. So maybe I'm just missing the adults.
Your aproach sounds wonderfully relatable to me. It's basically what I did with mealies back in the day. *but*: since the explosion of my hoya collection I'm deathly afraid of mealies coming back. Spot treat some orchids and one or two big-leaved hoyas over the course of some months? Maybe. Thoroughly searching even only two mature and bushy small leaved ones? Nope. No way that would be feasible.
@MusicalRedmint yeah the contrast is important, and ofc movement😅 I was so excited when I saw the adult one after I found those 3 eggs yesterday as I felt I had found the *culprit*🤣
I agree with you though. Only reason I keep up with the manual removing is that this is a small Calathea with just (now) 8 leaves, so it is managable. I don't really understand how the mites survived the period when the plant had no leaves after February though (it had problems with rootrot from the store, and lost all its leaves after a while, it is suprisingly healty now though, not mentioning the mites😅).
So I thought I got rid of the mites untill I checked again a few weeks ago🙈 Didn't find on any other plant, just this one.
Last time I got spider-mites on all my shrubby cinquefoil cuttings. All those tiny leaves🙈 I sprayed them down with a soapy-oily mix and they ended up loosing all their leaves😅 Did get rid of the mites though.. even if I also lost some bushes🤣
I agree with you though. Only reason I keep up with the manual removing is that this is a small Calathea with just (now) 8 leaves, so it is managable. I don't really understand how the mites survived the period when the plant had no leaves after February though (it had problems with rootrot from the store, and lost all its leaves after a while, it is suprisingly healty now though, not mentioning the mites😅).
So I thought I got rid of the mites untill I checked again a few weeks ago🙈 Didn't find on any other plant, just this one.
Last time I got spider-mites on all my shrubby cinquefoil cuttings. All those tiny leaves🙈 I sprayed them down with a soapy-oily mix and they ended up loosing all their leaves😅 Did get rid of the mites though.. even if I also lost some bushes🤣
@MockingJay Do you check the stems? Because they also like the stems. A lot. For food (that's why one of the signs are overly wooden/scabbed stems in hoyas). And I'm not sure but I think they also might be able to lay eggs there as well. Aren't they delightful?
And yeah, since my broad mites disaster 2 years ago, I'm off oil treatments entirely. Not even doing the lightest of inorganic horticultural oils any more. Not with orchids and hoyas. And especially not worth those mites. In my experience enough survive that it's just not worth the risk. Of course maybe on flat mites it's different? But I think I can't stomach loading plants to my pest treatments again. To pests? Yes. Maybe. But not to oil treatments.
And yeah, since my broad mites disaster 2 years ago, I'm off oil treatments entirely. Not even doing the lightest of inorganic horticultural oils any more. Not with orchids and hoyas. And especially not worth those mites. In my experience enough survive that it's just not worth the risk. Of course maybe on flat mites it's different? But I think I can't stomach loading plants to my pest treatments again. To pests? Yes. Maybe. But not to oil treatments.
@MusicalRedmint yep, figured I had to check the stems too😅 If they would just crawl onto my sticky traps too it would have been great😂
@MusicalRedmint of course you did 😂 I am 100% sure I would have done the same in your situation. Little mite nursery 😅
@MockingJay ooh I like your microscope. Do you use the viewfinder itself or your phone?
@MockingJay ooh I like your microscope. Do you use the viewfinder itself or your phone?
@DreamMachine there is no viewfinder or screen on the microscope, so you have to use your phone. But you adjust the lighting and focus on the microscope 👍
Just as well really, I wouldn't have been able to bend my head to look under the leaves properly if I had to look through the microscope itself anyway😆
Just as well really, I wouldn't have been able to bend my head to look under the leaves properly if I had to look through the microscope itself anyway😆
@MusicalRedmint @MockingJay I hesitate to ask this, as it would be much easier if I just ignore it until it goes away 😅; but do either of you recognize this leaf issue I just saw this morning? It’s on a carnosa, it’s the newest leaf on this vine. I don’t see anything moving but I don’t like those dark specks 🧐 It’s the only leaf that has these marks.
Sorry for the picture of picture. As you might see I do not have the memory card chip 😝
Sorry for the picture of picture. As you might see I do not have the memory card chip 😝
@DreamMachine that is some odd spots indeed. I am no expert in recognizing damage-patterns unfortunately 🙈 I recently learned that the burnt leaves on my tomatoes and cucumber are because of overfertilization🙈 But don't think that is your problem.
Could it be something that lives on the inside of the leaf? 😱 It looks like there are holes here and there where they might enter/exit the leaf😱
Is it possible to hope it is just mechanical damage?🙈😬
Could it be something that lives on the inside of the leaf? 😱 It looks like there are holes here and there where they might enter/exit the leaf😱
Is it possible to hope it is just mechanical damage?🙈😬
@MockingJay right? It looks like that, kind of like leafminers! I’ve disposed of this leaf and watching for any more suspicious activity 🔍 👀