Poorly but why?

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Brian
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Poorly but why?

Post by Brian »

These two plants do not look happy. I have not uprooted them yet. Anybody help identify what is wrong? Everything else is looking pretty good in the greenhouse, so these have been transferred outside for isolation purposes. Red spider was a thought.
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rodsmith
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Re: Poorly but why?

Post by rodsmith »

Looks like several doses of red spider mite of one sort or another. In my experience the plant will recover and eventually the unsightly part will become less prominent as the new growth appears. The problem with RSM appears to be that once you detect an attack it's too late to prevent cosmetic damage to the plant.
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Growing a mixed collection of cacti & other succulents; mainly smaller species with a current emphasis on lithops & conophytum.
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Brian
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Re: Poorly but why?

Post by Brian »

Thank you, Rod. If anything I am more of a mealy bug specialist! These plants are so unsightly. Do RSM prefer some plants to others? These are echinopsis aurea as far as I am aware.
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DaveW
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Re: Poorly but why?

Post by DaveW »

I had similar trouble with some Echinocereus and a resistant strain of mealies to most insecticides I tried. Therefore they are really now just propagation material, so I washed off the roots and completely submerged the plants in methylated sprits for a minute or so in a bucket, then washed them off in clean water.

They look bedraggled but are now putting out clean stems or offsets that will be cut off and rooted when large enough. Not found any mealies or red spider that stands up to that treatment, but am keeping a watch to see if any eggs managed to survive.
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Brian
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Re: Poorly but why?

Post by Brian »

The markings were so bad I decided to break the plants up. No sign whatsoever of RSM or mealy bugs or anything like that. There are quite a few very small and unblemished pups which I will wash well in washing up liquid, then pot up together in one clean pot, fresh soil of course. There was not much depth to the roots, but what there was looked fine. I don’t think the roots go too deep on these. No sign of similar damage on neighbouring plants, but I will be watching them carefully. I usually water with neem oil two or three times a year; it is on my to do list for tomorrow.
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Re: Poorly but why?

Post by Bob Sobelman »

I agree red spider mites
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Re: Poorly but why?

Post by Bob Sobelman »

also when you detect the problem its too late they have already stung the plant.
they normaly are or like dry conditions suggest misting. here we have spray for them. but as I said when you see them they have already done the damage
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Brian
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Re: Poorly but why?

Post by Brian »

Broken up and started again with offsets, duly washed in washing up liquid. Fresh soil too. Plus some babies all with roots.
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