How does one determine that there are spider mites present when no webbing is seen nor insect identification is ever made? Best guess?

I just guessed because the color was being sucked out of every leaf on my little tree and heading to the others. The healthy green leaf loses color and drops off. I did notice some webbing on some young Angels Trumpets. I tried washing it two times a day for 3 days but it wasn't working. It is easy to miss a spot on a big leaf that is waaaay up there. It also hit my sweet potato vine. I hit it with Spectracide Triazicide ($8/btl). It takes care of a host of bugs. I hoped the one I had was on the list. If not, the plan was that I would use it for mosquitoes and fleas on the yard/lawn and then try something else. The bottle goes on a garden hose. But I poured a little of it into a spray bottle, added water and made a weak solution. I sprayed it after the sun went down so the sun wouldn't burn the leaves. It worked for the most part so as not to harm me, the plants or the environment considering it is a chemical pesticide. But maybe it wasn't strong enough since there is evidence of more mottling of the leaves here and there. We live with bugs and critters here in the South. I think there is no getting away from chemicals especially when they are harming my beloved plant life.

Oh, also tried Nutria insecticidal soap ($6) without the usual good results. I used up a whole bottle! I think I had just too many bugs.

I try to stay chemical free as well, but when all else fails, well, bring out the heavy stuff.

It has been harder to keep up with the bugs this year over others for some reason?? I have never had this much trouble before?? Now I see leaf change on my Satsuma orange tree in the front yard? What's going on around here??

Is your climate or the spring climate abnormal?

drdawg said:How does one determine that there are spider mites present when no webbing is seen nor insect identification is ever made? Best guess?

When I suspect spider mites I would use wet white paper towel to wipe the underleaves. You will see some black tiny things on the paper towel. I sometimes use magnifying lense too and you would see all those little critters crawling on the leaves. If it is early in the season and my plumerias are in active growth. I would cut off all the leaves, rinse the plumeria (if not too big) with cold mild soapy water.

Almost always, when new leaves come out, they are spider mite free. Thankful for the rain, I have no spider mites but not thankful that I have very few blooms.

I've never had issues with my plants, but this year...geeesshhhhh!!!!! They are hitting me with a force!!

Expecting cloud bursts tomorrow. Some rainfall may be sever so they say. I hope one busts right over my plumeria and my orange tree and (sing it with me) "wash the spiders out!"

I've never had issues with my plants, but this year...geeesshhhhh!!!!! They are hitting me with a force!!

Is your climate out of the ordinary, Mark? I haven't had any disease/insect issues here to speak of but it sure seems like a lot of people from coast to coast are having problems.

YES!! Lol we've been having the craziest weather ever! We've even gotten rain this summer a couple times...it goes from humid to dry to humid...overcast days..sunny days..wet days..windy days.. NOT the summers were used to here in San Diego...

If you use a pesticide for spidermites, make sure that it is also a miticide. A lot of them aren't, and they aren't very effective. It should say if it takes care of mites on the bottle. I know Sevin doesn't say it works on mites, but Worry-Free does, off the top of my head. I had a wicked bad problem with spidermites on my gardenia, poor thing lost every leaf and I almost lost it. It's made a nice comeback though, and nothing else is sick. On my plumies, I've got one inflo going strong! Now, if the weather would only hold out . . .

BabyK said:Someone gave me this cutting of dwarf white plumeria. Is it diseased? Can it be saved?

This picture was taken July 11.
Hetty, I did exactly what you recommended early on. I kept the cuttings in shade but watered a little only once. I think, though, a little more water came in from the rains that a tropical storm brought in. Here is a picture of one of them taken today, Aug. 24 (my time zone).


(Sorry, I am not a good photographer.)
It has been over 6 weeks...guess I will begin acclimating them into sunshine now? Should I water with rooting hormone liquid now? Appreciate your advice, Hetty.
Kadie

A little misting from time to time, no real water yet. But it's looking promising.

with Hetty, looking good Kadie!

Thanks! Will mist time to time. Here's hoping within another 6 weeks flower buds will show.

Yall never know Kadie but sometimes multi tip plumeria will not bloom first year of planting!