has any one tried using praetor nematodes and praetor mites to control spider mite, broad mites and thrips. They are like little lions feeding on the pests, praetor nematodes live in the ground killing any thing they find and most of the pest live part of their live there. Thrips spend the first part of there live under ground. The praetor nematodes come in a little sponge that you cut 1/3 of put in a spray bottle of water and let it sit for a 1/2 hour, shake it up and spray the surface potting mixe and then water them in good. It cost $18.00and the 2/3 that you have not used put in the cooler and treat you plants ever 2 weeks till it is gone. They will live on the sponge in the cooler for 6 weeks. I also treat my plants with praetor mites at the same time , they like to find the bad mites and lay their egg among the spider mites and broad mites eggs . When the praetor mites they are hunger an the love to eat mite eggs. they come in several different ways praetor mites"NEOSEIULUS CUCUMERIS" come in quick release packets $1.99 and it is enough to treat 1-2 plant racks 4 shelves 48 in. long. You springily the product which looks (it is ) wood saw dust over the plants It is import to do these after dark. sun light kills praetor mites nematodes & praetor mites mites!!!! Praetor mites"NEOSEIULUS CUCUMERIS"also come in slow release pack $1.99, you but pack on each shelve and as they hatch they leave the pack ove 6 week periodAs a Added protection !!! They best thing is they very best Insecticides /Miticides likeForbid 4F Miticide, Avid EC Miticide and Marathon a systemic insecticides do not kill the praetor nematodes and praetor mites so you can still use them!!!! YOU CAN NOT USE NEEM OIL Why because it kills every thing even the good praetor bugs then you have nothing to keep spider mite, broad mites and thrips under control!!! The day beforetaking your plants to a show put NEOSEIULUS CUCUMERIS mites "in the slow release pack in your box with your warping- material and leave it there for the whole trip with your plants

Hi Baci, The neem tree idea, sounds really cool. I have jungley longings, but little space. That is a really intruiging idea. The neem oil, I usually use outside. So I'll wait for the next really warm day that I have time to haul a bunch of pots outside, and fuss with warming the neem. That's a bit of a project, so neem use is usually May to August. A neem tree, hmm... I couldn't figure out why my stuff in the window didn't have mealies, like my neighbor's big stuff, right there, on the floor did. The scenteds seemed to do the trick, meanwhile, the other 2 clivia were upstairs, wasting away. The aha! moment hadn't happened yet, to save them, and they gave up. They hated the fairly strong doses they got of the alcohol, and the vinegar, in their already weakened state. The concetrations I used were stronger than those that I recommended. I used 70 or 90 on the alcohol and may have uped the vinegar concentration to to over 3/4. Just a little vinegar, say, 1/5 is just as effective and doesn't seem to bother the plants. Most of my experiments, start with other people's successes with a similar problem in a different situation. They're kind of variations on a theme. Various forums here on GW, have great ideas. Gee, except for mealies and getting water in the leaves, they are hard to kill inside, too. The trick is, to make them happy enough to bloom. I definately defer to the experts on this forum for that. Up north here, they've done it only when they've had a bright [just out of the sun], humid, cool, place. My clivia get very little filtered morning sun, probably not quite enough. The scented geraniums are mostly away now, in the sunniest window, except for ones being rotated to protect the clivia. Mealies seem to slow down when watering is cut back, too. Right now, I only have a couple of plucked s. ger leaves, tucked between the straps. Two or three times over the winter, it had a light puff, of weak vinegar water, up into the air, over it. There's still no sign of mealie bugs, and it's been months, yay !

Zone 4b Canada (USDA 3b). Himrod, Candice, Reliance not hardy. Roland, not hardy and does not taste good either compared to alternatives. Swenson white and red, vines ok but hardly any fruit and swenson red does not ripen well. Petite jewel, variable - good crops on vines put under snow, heavy losses above snow in -30C winters (ripen early-mid sept). Concord - variable. Bit worse than Trollhaugen but tastes so good and negligible disease and japanese beetles do not like as much. Trolhaugen but better than Petiete jewel but still - variable. Some crops even at -30C but vines below snow MUCH happier - ripen beginning Sept. Prarie Star and Brianna - both bomb proof. Like the taste for fresh eating of Prarie Star better - bit more tropical fruit/pineapple than Brianna which is a bit more vegital (Both ripen mid to late sept). Prarie star probably 2nd favorite of japanese beetles after Somerset. Bluebell - Bombproof. Concord/Coronation type flavour. Very thick skins when very ripe. Seems to get get brown rot fairly easy. Big berries on nice clusters though so worth it. Somerset - 5* and bombproof. Amazing taste. 100% hardy. Downsides are small grapes on small clusters and leaves are devistated by japanese beetles but crazy amazing strawberry flavour in a home grown seedless grape means it is a must plant. Ripens end august and holds well on vine for 3+ weeks getting sweeter and sweeter before starting to shrivel. Imagine would be great for farmers markets and CSA due to long harvest time. Valient - Bombproof but why plant if you have alternatives. Small grapes that are 50% seed. No good for fresh eating (too tart for my taste buds). If you canèt grow anything else, ok. If you really want for jelly, ok. Otherwise i would try some of the above.

Red Geraniums in Tin Cans I started my bright red geraniums from seed. Sprouted next to a wood stove in winter. I have them on the semi-shade patio in the summer but here in AZ, I bring them inside to bloom all winter in front of a huge SE facing window. This year broad mites attacked. I thought it was cultural, so repotted, fertilized. let dry out, watered more. By the time I realized MITES, the plant's leaves were twisted, discolored and the flower/tips were stunted. I dipped the plant, pot and all in 110 degree water for 15 minutes. I removed all flowers, bud and leaves. Bare Stalks! I put them outside on the patio and LO..new growth, bright green and even a flower stalk forming. I am going to remove that stalk to let the plant develop its roots and leaves but I am so pleased. Indestructible! I have plants that were more exotic and valuable but those geraniums, my favorite leafy pets!