I just discovered that my beautiful pink-blooming brug, which is in the ground (San Diego area) and is several feet tall, suddenly has got a lot of leaves damaged by what seem to be spider mites. It's my first encounter with this pest, and I think I'll try the oil mixture spray and possibly the garlic one as well. I don't want to use chemicals because the brug in question is near a precious fig tree. MY QUESTION IS, do you spray both the tops of the leaves and underneath them? (Sorry for caps. I used them in case the length of the first paragraph might turn off someone's interest in continuing.) My brug is so big that that would be quite a chore, but I'll do it. So. Cal. has been in a drought and our use of the irrigation sprays has been limited to 5 min. for any one area of the garden and that only 2 days a week, to boot. Although we do give our non-succulent plants dish water and the water that would have been wasted when waiting for warm water for the shower, that is nothing like the amount we used to give the garden through the automated irrigation system. I suppose that is what brought on the mite attack.

Ada, Thanks for the vet info. I found my Natural Remedies for Dogs book and wante to list a few options. They also tlk about garlic as a supplement, but I would be careful with the garlic, because I have read many times that garlic as well as onions are not good for dogs. Anyone who reads this PLEASE do not ever give your dogs raisins or grapes, thats the worst thing for them, far more poisonous for them than chocolate. I found that out the hard way, gave my little Boston Terrier some grapes, I almost lost her. This vet also recommends the beneifical nematodes outside, and DE. Here are some of the products and phone numbers, I searched and found that you can order them on the net. Cloud Nine herbal dip by Halo (800)-426-4256, this one I found on bizrate.com and a few other sites, it was more affordable. Quantum Herbal Products by Earth Animal, they have a website, (800)-348-0398. Flee Free, a liquid flower essence remedy byGreen Hope Farms (603)469-3662. www.greenhopeessences.com cost $9. One of those had the cedar oil it, don't remember which one. I'll have to check out that other health food store if I ever go to Norman again. My DH and kids hate when I go into the Health Food Center, they usually end up just following me in for some reason. lol. It's like a health food mall compared to any other store. Dawn, I am addicted to the laptop too. Both of our laptops are fairly new, I don't know what I did to mine, DH blames me everytime one of them stops working. By the way what does D stand for in DH? I just started typing it, and assume it could be a good word or a bad word, depending on the issue? hehe. Do you know of a natural remedy for keeping flies and mosquitos off of horses. I found a citronella spray but it also had pyrethrins in it, and I think I remember you saying that the pyrethrins and permrethrins were both toxic?

Rain tree Bug IS the universally recognized common name for this particular insect....much like the Boxelder Bug to whom they are closely related. Peabody, these insects aren't usually "controlled " on the trees because they don't feed on anything but the ripened seeds. (Also like the boxelder bugs.) They do tend to congregate on the outside of our homes, however....and try to get inside. Where are these critters hanging out? P.S. purple is right on target about dish soap versus real insecticidal soap. This post was edited by rhizo_1 on Thu, Mar 21, 13 at 12:08

Hi -I'm from honolulu, & I have just started to grow tomatoes in containers... and they seem to be doing fine I harvested about a dozen..big boys,not the best but definitely better than the store ones.... but am now trying some brandywine... I know this might sound crazy but... I used some unused tulle that comes in circles that you use for party favors...and took two and sewed them into simple pockets... and twist tied them onto the group of tomatoes... seems to work.. no fruit fly problems so far... seems like a lot of work,but its not... but I only have a few plants..I don't do it for the cherry toms only the larger varieties... so far my brandywine is big as my fist.. but still green... I am trying to use as least pesticides too...