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Spider Mites, Castile Soap

Posted by Nunyabiz1 7b (My Page) on
Thu, Jun 14, 12 at 13:36

I just discovered a miniature rose that I am growing for my mother outside her window has Spider Mites.
Shows all the symptoms, bronzing leaves, brown edges, couple of very tiny little webs and I looked under a couple of leaves and found a few.

So I did the usual Google it.
came across most saying just to wash them off with water.

However one person said to make a soap spray out of Kirks Castile bar soap, which I have. But it sounded like a bit of a hassle, shaving it up, shaking it in hot water and waiting hours to days for it to dissolve.

I also have some Dr. Bronners liquid castile soap, this one happens to be with Peppermint Oil.
I used to have the Eucalyptus oil one, worked very well for a dog shampoo and flea soap.
That one would probably work best.

but anyway I made up a batch with about a tablespoon or more mixed with water in a quart size pump sprayer.
mixed it up, pumped it up and gave the bush a good thorough bath sprayed each leaf top and bottom with a hard spray.

Now I have no idea if this is going to work.

Anyone with any experience using some sort of Castile Mite Soap.
Did it work?
If not what does?

This plant went from looking really nice, 3 weeks ago to looking almost dead today.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: Spider Mites, Castile Soap

Repeatedly washing it with water should eliminate the mites. The rose will, of course, need to grow new leaves.

I don't know whether you have been spraying for insect pests, but insecticide use usually increases your odds of a spider mite infestation. (Doesn't seem fair, does it?)

Jeri


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RE: Spider Mites, Castile Soap

Soap spray will kill mites (and their predators as well) but probably won't kill the eggs. I would suggest following up with repeated hard sprays of water under the leaves every couple of days for a week. Dr. Bronner's should be fine if you use the right amount. I see on the web recommendations ranging from 1 TB to 5 TB/gallon, and one of those extremes must be wrong. Your mix is on the high end. Please report if burning of the foliage appears after a few days.


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RE: Spider Mites, Castile Soap

I have only sprayed it with Daconil about 2 weeks ago before I knew what it was.
No insecticides.

Yeah my mix is WAY on the high end and then some.

Will report here what ever happens.

Thanks


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