RSM again ;-(

[AmberUK]

Ok taken some photos just now posted them at
They are quite big I can shrink if need be, but I thought the detail might be useful.
The Chamaecereus Sylvestres has gone a bit black. It corked last year in the greenhouse and I think the repeated spraying this year has made it go a funny colour. But as you can see there has been new growth but some of the new growth has gone corked/RSM'ed (they are outside and in partial shade so I do not believe corking is an issue this year)

[AmberUK]

Do the pictures show anything useful or are they too big and need shrinking?
Thanks
Amber

[Phil_SK]

Pic's OK. Is there any evidence of RSM on the newer growth - it looks undamaged in the photo?

[AmberUK]

On the first picture the small new growth by the lable didn't have that corking a few days ago. It was like the other new bits. Is that red spider mite damage (on the three cacti I have photo'd)? Because if I know it is then I can just keep an eye out, I am worried they are not liking all the spraying.
Thanks
Amber

[Vic]

Hi Amber,

RSM usually evident as rusty coloured damage to the epidermis of the plant and usually around the crown where there is new growth but sometimes elsewhere.

As long as you use recommended miticides/sprays etc.. and keep the plants in a shaded position out of direct sunshine you should cause no damage to the plants. Alternatively you can spray late in the evening.

A method I tried and which seemed to work although it may of already been mentioned was too depot the plant, remove the excess soil and submerge the whole plant in soapy water (drop or two of washing up liquid to 1 litre of water) and leave it for say half an hour and then allow to dry off.

[AmberUK]

The last time I was due to spray the cacti I actually did a dip. Since then the Chamaecereus Sylvestres has looked a bit sad on the old growth last year that got corked. So now I am trying to work out if I can stop the dip/spraying because this has been going on for weeks and some of the cacti seem a little unhappy. I am more concerned about the repeated wettings than the posibilty of scorch from the sun.

I didn't depot the cact when I dipped. It was a warm day at the time and I thought they would be ok.

[Derek]

I can't see any pictures!
It seems to me that the damage to your plants isn't due to rsm at all, as repeated doses of washing up liquid will kill all the mites without fail.
Can you see any mites around the top of the plants and particularly in the folds in the epidermis?
Regards Derek Milton Keynes UK

[Karen-L]

maybe you could trim the pictures down a bit, cut some of the background off, might make the files about 2 thirds the size- the picture i tried took a while to download and i have broadband.
The detail is useful as it is, resizing would make it too blurry.

[AmberUK]

I haven't been able to see the mites at all, this has been the problem. Maybe I will let them rest for a bit and see if the damage doesn't continue
Thanks for the replies
Amber

[Maria J]

It took me an age with dial up!!!!
I agree with Karen's comments though.