Mites on morning glory seedlings

I really don't know where this thread should go... I have some Morning Glory seedlings on my windowsill together with my Ficus Benjamina which has mites. You know, the tiny creatures that eventually create a web with their strings. The Ficus is fine, it gets weekly showers so the mite- problem isn't that terrible.

The problem are the seedlings, they are growing very well but have mites. I'd assume they shouldn't be a problem once I get the plants outdoors but actually I was dreaming of keeping some of them indoors to frame the window.

How to treat mites on Ipomoea meant for indoors? The Ficus is fine with weekly showers, the mites survive but the plant copes just fine, however, I don't fancy a large climber with Pests in my bedroom and anycase, I have a gut feeling that the soft leaves of the Ipomoea might be more affected with the monsters.

Please help!

 

If your talking Red Spider Mite, you could have problems.
They wont necessarily go away when you put the plants outside, and inside they are likely to ruin your ipomoeas from the start.
You can buy a predator, that eats RSM, for indoor use, it might be worth trying, I'm sure the ficus would appreciate it as well.

 

Can't you use Provado?

 

I had severe Red Spider Mite on my Morning Glory last year - they were in the conservatory. Killed all the Morning Glory Plants, I used predator, but I was very late in detecting the mites, which I'm sure didn't help, and it was towards the end of the season so I let the mites get on with it (spraying would have killed the predator too)

 

You could try it.

But I've found RSM are pretty resistant to most sprays that we are allowed to have these days.
At best you might kill one generation of adults, but there will be plenty of eggs to carry them on.
Repeat spraying just builds up their resistance as far as I concerned.:(

 

Hi Pete. I always suggest Provado because I found, that as a Systemic, it completely controlled scale insects. (Since they banned Malathion:() It also wiped out the Lily beetles I was having trouble with.:gnthb: Don't know much about RSM as I grow all my stuff outdoors and they don't seem to be a problem there

 

It does work Caj but another good systemic is Westland bug attack it is long lasting,I add 10 drops of Neem oil to a 250ml spray and also use a fine spray gun the one it's in is to coarse it kills them stone dead,worth a try Pete.

 

Where do you get the neem oil Walnut?

I even get problems with RSM outside in good summers Caj.

 

In good Summers, pete? I think I'd happily struggle with the RSM if I could lay out in the garden, in the sun, with a beer in my hand.:D But to be serious, I find them crawling all over the fence and other woodwork but they don't seem to be on the plants. However, I've got a g/house now, I'll keep a close eye on things:wink:

 

Caj, if you see them crawling on the wood work and fence I doubt they are RSM.

And I'm sure we are going to get a warm summer this year.:rotfl:

 

Does the old wahing up liquid trick work on mites?

 

Pete got the neem oil from the local health shop they sell it for nits on kids,you can get it on e-bay.

 

Ok thanks Walnut, will keep an eye open.