Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Yeah I was gonna say, that's the only downside
Yep, that's exactly what I use.
Re-Thinking Things
- Thread starter Redwood Ryan
- Start date
Yeah I was gonna say, that's the only downside
Yep, that's exactly what I use.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Found half of my trees crawling with aphids. I swear, I'm one aphid away from giving up the hobby.
october
Masterpiece
Been there Ryan... I stopped doing tropicals because they were too much work. Part of that work was the indoor pest situation. I have also had thoughts like this due to scale on my outdoor trees. Every year they come back. If I don't catch it, parts of the tree start getting pale and dying. I have to inspect them everyweek and spay 1/2 of my collection like 2-3 times a year. It really bother me that I have to stay on the ball continuously, or else. However, the rewards are worth it. On the same note, last year a terrible fungus moved in on my trees. I watched as it spread through a few plus trees and was just decimating them. This in spite of me spraying different fungicides, a couple of times each on them. I thought, why am I doing this..just to have these things move into my trees and just start wiping out my years of work and hundreds of dollars. I saved the trees that were the most important. It will be a long road back, but they are alive. Basically, I've been there...However, I think that idea of giving up the hobby, deep down, this is just a surface reaction like mine was. I can't really picture my life without the trees.
Rob
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Been there Ryan... I stopped doing tropicals because they were too much work. Part of that work was the indoor pest situation. I have also had thoughts like this due to scale on my outdoor trees. Every year they come back. If I don't catch it, parts of the tree start getting pale and dying. I have to inspect them everyweek and spay 1/2 of my collection like 2-3 times a year. It really bother me that I have to stay on the ball continuously, or else. However, the rewards are worth it. On the same note, last year a terrible fungus moved in on my trees. I watched as it spread through a few plus trees and was just decimating them. This in spite of me spraying different fungicides, a couple of times each on them. I thought, why am I doing this..just to have these things move into my trees and just start wiping out my years of work and hundreds of dollars. I saved the trees that were the most important. It will be a long road back, but they are alive. Basically, I've been there...However, I think that idea of giving up the hobby, deep down, this is just a surface reaction like mine was. I can't really picture my life without the trees.
Rob
Thanks Rob, great comments.
I've never really had to deal with scale, but aphids, I imagine, are just as bad. It's just the worst watching a tree slowly die. The thing with me is, is that I often wonder if this is just another "phase" I'm going through, or if this is truly an interest of mine. That, combined with the bug outbreaks, really just gets to me and makes me consider what I'm doing
Beng
Omono
Have you tried systemics?
About 2 years ago I had a mealybug problem followed by spider mites with my bougainvillea in the winter. I keep it under a metal halide. I treated it with Merit 75WP one time and that killed the mealybugs. At the same time I covered the soil surface with used coffee grinds. 2 weeks later I applied this systemic insecticide to the soil. http://www.amazon.com/Bonide-Produc...63661502&sr=8-1&keywords=systemic+insecticide Haven't seen a bug on the tree since.
I used to try to kill bugs organically but have found they usually come back. Chemicals are our friends, esp for inside gardening.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Have you tried systemics?
About 2 years ago I had a mealybug problem followed by spider mites with my bougainvillea in the winter. I keep it under a metal halide. I treated it with Merit 75WP one time and that killed the mealybugs. At the same time I covered the soil surface with used coffee grinds. 2 weeks later I applied this systemic insecticide to the soil. http://www.amazon.com/Bonide-Produc...63661502&sr=8-1&keywords=systemic+insecticide Haven't seen a bug on the tree since.
I used to try to kill bugs organically but have found they usually come back. Chemicals are our friends, esp for inside gardening.
I've not tried that, but I have tried hort. oil, which I may have to do. However, I'll probably just defoliate everything again, wait for new leaves, and tear down the fresh air movement blocking walls.
october
Masterpiece
One of the saving graces was the day I found that recipe for the homemade pesticide soap solution. It was not toxic, it could be sprayed practically anytime and anywhere. No need to wear ppe.
Also, I think that almost everyone that deals with tropicals is going through the same thing.
As I said, just this last summer, I was battling scale and the fugus... I only have about 17 trees, more than half are in training...I thought, I can't do this much longer... I can't watch my years of work go down the drain and start over again.
I am really looking forward to this new season. Hopefully getting some new trees and helping along the sick ones from last year.
Rob
Also, I think that almost everyone that deals with tropicals is going through the same thing.
As I said, just this last summer, I was battling scale and the fugus... I only have about 17 trees, more than half are in training...I thought, I can't do this much longer... I can't watch my years of work go down the drain and start over again.
I am really looking forward to this new season. Hopefully getting some new trees and helping along the sick ones from last year.
Rob
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
I was able to use a systemic to knock out a scale infestation on a couple of ficus this winter...would be worth a try, should work on aphids as well. But it's not an instantaneous fix...the chemical must be taken up by the roots and then distributed through the plant. So in the meantime, use mechanical methods to eliminate the aphids, i.e. wash them off, or use oil/soap sprays. In my opinion, aphids are much easier to deal with than scale - at least you can see them pretty easily. Scale can hide pretty effectively and the young "crawlers" are very small.
I'm coming to the conclusion that, for me, tropicals may not be worth the effort. When I started bonsai about 3 years ago, I figured having a small collection of tropicals would give me some "bonsai" work (wiring, in particular) to do during the winter, so I'd learn more quickly. However, the trees barely grow during the winter despite high intensity lighting and plenty of warmth. By the time they get active and require attention, all the hardy plants are in full growth mode. Unless I can figure out what I'm doing wrong, I'll probably be downsizing or even eliminating the tropicals later this year.
Oh, and if you don't quarantine new plants for at least 2-4 weeks...well, you are just asking for trouble!
Chris
I'm coming to the conclusion that, for me, tropicals may not be worth the effort. When I started bonsai about 3 years ago, I figured having a small collection of tropicals would give me some "bonsai" work (wiring, in particular) to do during the winter, so I'd learn more quickly. However, the trees barely grow during the winter despite high intensity lighting and plenty of warmth. By the time they get active and require attention, all the hardy plants are in full growth mode. Unless I can figure out what I'm doing wrong, I'll probably be downsizing or even eliminating the tropicals later this year.
Oh, and if you don't quarantine new plants for at least 2-4 weeks...well, you are just asking for trouble!
Chris
Hi Ryan,
When I was building my indoor collection I had some mites, aphids, scale and weevil problems on my trees too. It also seems that every time you bring in a new tree, bug problems are sure to follow.
I have used systemic pesticide on my trees, and had very good result. I sprayed my trees in spring and fall for 2 years and after that (knock on wood) I had no bug problem ever since. Granted I haven't added any tree in my collection for years (all of my mame trees and pre-bonsai stock now are from my own cuttings) and I do some simple precaution / maintenance to keep my collection bugs free.
Hope that helps
Eric
When I was building my indoor collection I had some mites, aphids, scale and weevil problems on my trees too. It also seems that every time you bring in a new tree, bug problems are sure to follow.
I have used systemic pesticide on my trees, and had very good result. I sprayed my trees in spring and fall for 2 years and after that (knock on wood) I had no bug problem ever since. Granted I haven't added any tree in my collection for years (all of my mame trees and pre-bonsai stock now are from my own cuttings) and I do some simple precaution / maintenance to keep my collection bugs free.
Hope that helps
Eric
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Thanks everyone.
I hear you there, can't wait for this new season. I want to get everything outdoors and clean everything inside. Spring can't come fast enough
Thanks Chris. I am now beginning to wonder if tropicals are really worth it. They keep me pretty entertained during the dead of winter, but these bugs are just relentless.
Thanks Eric. Every time I've used oils on my trees, it seems they get very unhappy and drop leaves like crazy. Maybe the systemic pesticide wouldn't do the same, so if defoliating these guys and giving them a wash in the shower doesn't work, I'll look into the systemic.
By the way, how many trees do you have (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm wondering if I have too many trees and too little light. I've got two 4 foot, 4 bulb T5s and one 4 foot 6 bulb T5, but I wonder if they just aren't cutting it?
I hear you there, can't wait for this new season. I want to get everything outdoors and clean everything inside. Spring can't come fast enough
Thanks Chris. I am now beginning to wonder if tropicals are really worth it. They keep me pretty entertained during the dead of winter, but these bugs are just relentless.
Thanks Eric. Every time I've used oils on my trees, it seems they get very unhappy and drop leaves like crazy. Maybe the systemic pesticide wouldn't do the same, so if defoliating these guys and giving them a wash in the shower doesn't work, I'll look into the systemic.
By the way, how many trees do you have (if you don't mind me asking)? I'm wondering if I have too many trees and too little light. I've got two 4 foot, 4 bulb T5s and one 4 foot 6 bulb T5, but I wonder if they just aren't cutting it?
Hi Ryan,
I know how stressful this is. You have to sit down, relax and rethink what your doing.
Every time you defoliate your trees, it uses its reserve energy to re-grow leaves. Not the best idea considering that they are already getting attacked by bugs. Weak trees are more susceptible to bug infestation.
If they are unhappy with horticultural oils, then stop using them. Insecticidal soap do the same job without adverse effect on your trees. Once a month spray with insecticidal soap will surely control bugs.
How do you water your trees? One of the thing I do to prevent and control bugs is I water with a watering can and give the whole tree a good shower (at least twice a week). Spraying the underside of the leaves with a spray bottle once a month also helps.
If I were in your shoes, I would start with insecticidal soap. As soon as it gets warmer, take them out and spray them with systemic. and before taking them in, spray them again.
As for the number of trees, on my bonsai shelf, I try not to get them too close to each other for better air circulation.
The light fixtures are regular 2 bulb 48" t8 shoplights.
Hope that helps
Eric
I know how stressful this is. You have to sit down, relax and rethink what your doing.
Every time you defoliate your trees, it uses its reserve energy to re-grow leaves. Not the best idea considering that they are already getting attacked by bugs. Weak trees are more susceptible to bug infestation.
If they are unhappy with horticultural oils, then stop using them. Insecticidal soap do the same job without adverse effect on your trees. Once a month spray with insecticidal soap will surely control bugs.
How do you water your trees? One of the thing I do to prevent and control bugs is I water with a watering can and give the whole tree a good shower (at least twice a week). Spraying the underside of the leaves with a spray bottle once a month also helps.
If I were in your shoes, I would start with insecticidal soap. As soon as it gets warmer, take them out and spray them with systemic. and before taking them in, spray them again.
As for the number of trees, on my bonsai shelf, I try not to get them too close to each other for better air circulation.
The light fixtures are regular 2 bulb 48" t8 shoplights.
Hope that helps
Eric
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Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Hey Eric,
Thanks for the comments. This can be very stressful indeed.
The problem I have with using any kind of sprays is that it is difficult to get through all of the foliage and get all the leaves. If you miss a leaf that is infested, but get all the other leaves, that one leaf will still spread to the others.
I water my trees just by using a bottle and pouring water into the soil, the usual way. I haven't thought about giving the trees a shower, and I just might have to start doing that, it's a good idea.
I just took some of the trees out and sprayed them down with the hose. Where to go from here though, I'm uncertain.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
I actually did get rid of one greenhouse and now have the trees sitting on shelves under the 6 bulb T5 light. So far, so good. The Willow Leaf are really pushing the red growth and seem happy.
I just can't stand how some of the trees on the sides aren't all the way under the light, I feel they aren't getting enough
I'm monitoring the other half for more bugs. After an intense spray down and some time in the sun (too much, burnt some leaves), I don't see any bugs moving around. We'll see...
I just can't stand how some of the trees on the sides aren't all the way under the light, I feel they aren't getting enough
I'm monitoring the other half for more bugs. After an intense spray down and some time in the sun (too much, burnt some leaves), I don't see any bugs moving around. We'll see...
Beng
Omono
Merit 75 is an instant fix unlike the bonide one I linked to. It's a danger to bees though, but since your growing indoors that doesn't matter much. You can treat both the soil and the foliage, by morning everything living is dead. Repeat one month later and your bug free. I've found with oils unless used during dormancy the critters come back. The problem with aphids is they could be dwelling in your soil as well.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
After reading an article on Jerry Meisliks site about someone who uses a "grow hut" to grow his trees, I'm considering getting one myself. This one is a nice size:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-x-5-x-6-5...114?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac2b52832
I could then easily control air movement, humidity, etc. and hopefully keep the trees happy. Hmmmm.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-x-5-x-6-5...114?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac2b52832
I could then easily control air movement, humidity, etc. and hopefully keep the trees happy. Hmmmm.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
I went ahead and bought this one, and will let you all know how it grows:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271218734913?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271218734913?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
KennedyMarx
Omono
Didn't you already put plants in a mylar lined PVC enclosure?
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Yup but the mylar wasn't durable at all and turned transparent every time water got on it.
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
Why not just line your home built enclosure with clear plastic and put the mylar on the outside? You might lose some light that way, but the mylar will last longer.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
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