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Very sad and sulking citrus :( - spider mites?

westbynorthwest

5 years ago

Help! Suddenly my citrus trees (living under lights in the laundry room) started looking wilty and dropping leaves. To my eye it happened almost overnight? One day they were happy and working on new growth, and not long after the mature leaves are wilting, turning brown, falling off if I dare look at them.

I sprayed the leaves with water and could see some of the little webs. Sprayed vigorously a couple days in a row while hoping the outdoor temps would warm a bit so I could spray them in the open garage. Third day when it looked like every one was going to die, I covered the floor and sprayed them in the laundry room with Bonide Horticultural Oil (says it kills spider mites and other pests).

Here's my question - I covered their soil (511) with newspaper as I thought I should protect the soil from getting drenched in oil. Is that wrong?

Two days later, every morning the floor is covered in leaves. I'm afraid they'll be stick trees soon.

I understand there might not be enough humidity there, but now my Kaffir Lime in the kitchen (upstairs), which has been flourishing, just started dropping leaves too.

Next steps? Advice? It is so upsetting to see my poor trees that have been doted on for years behaving so unhappily..

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Comments (4)

socalnolympia
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Is enough heat being maintained?

Or is your central heater causing the air to be dry and sucking out the humidity? (can easily kill citrus in just a few days)

Have you examined the leaves carefully for little tiny spider mites?

If so it needs to be sprayed, preferably with a mixture of insecticidal soap and pyrethrin. (Some people use neem oil instead)

I'd take it outside to spray, since you want to make sure you do a thorough job, covering all the undersides of the leaves.
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dnedd1 zone7 LI NY
5 years ago
I battled them last year first time and you are spot on within 1 week I had an infestation and lost two plants. I did spray my soil also and I believe you should too. Let's see what others did that dealt with them also. Misting several times a day it not an option for most of us, I would recommend a humidifier for winter indoors.
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Kaliea, I think mites choose citrus at random. I don't think one has less chance of contracting mites than others. You need to improve the environment so mites don't return. Humidity should be at least 50%, air circulation is important..so a humidifier and fan are needed. Daily misting helps keep bugs at bay, too. I was told by a woman who owns a citrus nursery to spray citrus with Fish Emulsion. So far it's worked great..not one mite. GardensAlive also sells sticky traps that work great, but since you're able to control them w/soapy water, continue doing so..Make sure all signs of mites are gone before stopping this organic insecticide, otherwise all it takes in one bug and you've got the same problems again. Air circulation is very important, especially in winter when our heat is on. Too hot a room and bugs come marching in. Toni
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The oil will only harm your leaves if the temperature is over about 80 F. I sometimes have this problem in my home rooftop nursery trees; like you I can't find them, but I discovered that if I wash them well with a hose end sprayer about 10 at night, they seem to go away.... and, as Rhizo said, pay attention to the underside of the leaves, where both spider mites and other teeny garden spiders hide. BTW late at night I can actually find the small spiders, but rarely the spider mites. Maybe it is my climate (warm and humid) that does not favor the mites; or maybe I just don't have them...I do have other types of mites, most important the one that carries citrus leprosis; luckily that one only attacks sweet orange; and I only have a cupla dozen of those.
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throw the old potting media into the compost bin ... NOT away ... its always a good idea to start fresh with potting media.. especially on production crops .. and what you put in the pot is just as important.. regarding media ... BTW.. why werent all these things in the ground.. if you have space for a pot.. etc... i have gardened for 35 years.. and i still have trouble with pots.. you are kinda starting with the hard way .... last summers heat and drought and may cold ..... were not great for tomato ... especially a potted one ... over the years.. i gave up on watermelon ... jsut too big.. and too yuck ... not to mention.. its growing season to ripe.. may not be long enough for you .. its a plant that just isnt worth it.. and all that space.. that you could have used for other stuff ... and frankly ... IT might have been the whole problem.. once it took over the whole yard ... giving a few pests.. time to hide.. until the population exploded ... you cant really prevent the fluid suckers .... aphids.. mites.. etc .. you notice them early.. and react ... chipmonk .. rat trap with peanut butter.. under a large upsidedown pot.. tipped on a rock to allow access .. if you cant get rid of it.. you are not allowed to complain... even better if you can find its hole.. and cover that ... good luck ken
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socalnolympia
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It is possible to eventually eradicate mites. (Though not easy)

What you have to do is take all the plants that are together in the indoor area and bring them all together outside and give them a very thorough spraying. Everywhere. Then you have to repeat this 10 days later. And then for a third time 10 days after that.

Also make sure to totally clean out the area inside where the plants are. You don't want any mites hiding out there and surviving.

Sometimes the mites hide out in the soil in the containers.

Spider mites love dry conditions.
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dnedd1 zone7 LI NY
5 years ago
Do you have before and after pics?
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