Too Much love?

» LindaRoselover - too much spray or mites?

I think I am the pest in my garden. Here's how it started: My roses have a serious spider mite problem in which I have used: Volck oil spray, Diazanon, "Bayer rose and flower spray" and recently Neem oil (from Greenlight, I believe). The insecticides either do not kill the mights or burn my leaves severely. Now, the infected leaves (mite injured but pest free or newly infested) are dropping like flies I just brush the plants and the leaves drop right off! The only plants unaffected are new ones, a Taboo, a Dream Weaver and an unknown old red rose.
I believe they are dropping leaves because either the mites or my many sprays....
To add insult to injury, the deciduous trees that were not as big when I started the garden are now in their full leaf glory and partially shading the roses. (<--which might not be a bad idea since I live on the Mississippi gulf coast). I'm thinking that the roses are having a difficult time re-growing leaves as a result. They do get more light when the sun is at it's higher summertime angle. I'm OK with small sporadic blooms because of shade, but complete defoliation because of mites/spray is a pitiful sight to see!
I also spray for fungal diseases with Rosepride which seems to work well, but deforms/curls the leaves. But I have no blackspot
My questions are: is there a dependable miticide which will not burn or cause leaf drop? I have considered Napalm (lol).What should I do for the roses to promote new leaf growth? Is there a recommended spray for fungi that doesn't deform new leaves?
I'm praying that I don't lose my babies to this and it's very depressing to walk out and see sticks with flower buds on them.
Thank you for any information and advice,
Sincerely,
Linda

-- posted by LindaRoselover

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» CarolWallace - Re: too much spray or mites?

In response to message posted by LindaRoselover:
Hi linda, SInce I never use sprays I can't speak from direct experience - but Mark did a couple of excellent article son the subject - one specifically dealing with spider mites and another on biological controls.

It sounds like you hit your plants hard with a lot of chemical controls. I'd blame that rather than the shade - especially in your area. I have roses growing in shade here in Pennsylvania and while they don't grow as fast and large as those in sun, they always have leaves.

-- posted by CarolWallace

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» Treeman - pider mites

Hmmmm....not sure the products you are using are really miticides. Diazinon definitely isn't. The oils probably won't have much permanent effect either. Neem is listed as a miticide but the Greenlight brand has a very low concentration of the active ingredient...azidiractin. I suspect the Bayer product contains a systemic insecticide (Imadcloprid) that is very good for sucking insects but probably won't affect mites.

None of these products normally would cause leaf drop exept maybe the oils if they were applied too heavy. Also sometimes the environmental conditions are just so to cause an adverse reaction to oils. In the future i would use the Light horticultural oils for aphids and scale tho. the heaver volck oils are more prone to cause injury.

There is also the possibility that you may be harming the natural controls...the benificial insects and mites that naturally control pests. Mite outbreaks following insectide applications are really quite common. In killing the insect pests we often inadvertently kill the predators and also reduce the competition the pest insects provide the mites. the mites rapidly fill the vacume.

I would be inclined to cut the plants back by about a third and resume a normal fertilzation and water regime...simply avoid added stress. In you hot climate the partial shade is probably a blessing just be sure the plants have adequate moisture during the hot months ahead.

-- posted by Treeman

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» LindaRoselover - Re: pider mites

In response to message posted by Treeman:

Thank you so much, Carol and Wes. I appreciate the time and thoughtful consideration you both took to help me out. You also helped eliminate my fear of inadequate light .

I did my garden walk this morning and came back inside near tears~ no joke. I will definitely take your advice and not "bother" them anymore.

Wes, Imacloprid is the active ingredient in Bayer~ which is funny that the label designates it as a killer of mites. I will know now to check with other sources

I have contacted my county extension agent to tour our gardens and take soil samples for testing as there just might be some missing elements that make our plants more prone to infestations. It seems everything grows bigger and more abundant here in the hot humid south. Good for plants, bad for bugs. He did recommend "Cygon" for mites. Would you happen to have experience with it? I might use it for future heavier problems.

Since die-back is a problem here and some plants are very small, I might forego the pruning or limit it to larger ones. OK... here I go to give them a half dose of some fertilizer and *leave* them in peace.

I am hoping that since it's early in the growing season, they have a chance to recooperate.

Bless you both,
Linda

-- posted by LindaRoselover

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» CarolWallace - Re: Re: Spider mites

In response to message posted by LindaRoselover:
I'd really take Wes's advice and do the pruning. Especially this early in the season it will encourage more leafy growth.

-- posted by CarolWallace

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» LindaRoselover - Re: Re: Re: Spider mites

In response to message posted by CarolWallace:

Hi~
Thank you Carol I will, sometime after these blooms open. I can't stand the idea of cutting off un-opened blooms. Well, at least they have flowers, right? Good news~ they are starting to put on new leaves as we speak. Thankfully, they are not dead.

Today, I am anxiously awaiting the County Extension agent to drop by to test the soil. Only a gardener at heart could get excited about such a concept, ha ha.

Thanks again,
Linda

-- posted by LindaRoselover

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