spidermites

[Sabrinaleena]

Must be a spider mite jinx going around right now. I was looking closely at my Russian Comfrey I have growing in a corner of my garden and it's been looking a bit straggly the last couple of days. I bent over to look more closely and noticed quite a few ants around it, but usually ants are ok and leave stuff alone. I looked closer at the leaves and underneath them. Sure enough a few of the leaves had that tell-tale mustard colored spider mite infestation.

I was thinking it might be aphids because of all the ants in the area (since the ants will protect the aphids due to the nectar-like goo they secrete) but i'm pretty sure it's spider mites. I used a store bought organic soap on the comfrey and then rinsed the plant of it about 15 min later. It seems to have gotten most of them off, and killed the rest that were on them.

Living in a dry hot area I know I should expect spider mites, but along with the caterpillars that seem to be around quite a bit I'm getting quite frustrated. I think it's time for a nematode spray again. And maybe more ladybugs. Good news is that the praying mantis eggs I bought hatched today. Not sure if they'll do much good but praying mantis' are pretty cool to look at and I'll have fun watching them in the garden when they've gone into adulthood.

[Tranoble]

I think your pest problem might be aphids. I have talked to a few people that have been growing outdoors for years and they all have said that spider mites cant live on pot plants outside. Who knows they might be wrong but they all grow huge outdoor crops every year and have been for at least 10 years.