[Arid_gardener] spider mites

[Steve Sheard]

Dear Clair,
I have 150 rose bushes and  I also do not like to use chemicals. The best weapon again Spider Mites is water. The spider mites gestation period is about 5 days - yes that quick.

Wash your rose bush from the bottom up (underside of the leaves) with as hard a water jet as you can get, every 3 days for two weeks. This will break the cycle. 

Then wash once a week until mid June.
You will have no more spider mite problems.

Next year start washing once a week when we get the first 90F day.

Regards
Steve Sheard
(Consulting Rosarian, Not a Master Gardener)
http://www.roses4az-mevrs.org/

----- Original Message ----
From: Clair Spackman <cjspackman at ucdavis.edu>
To: arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
Sent: Monday, April 9, 2007 9:46:27 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] spider mites


I have a wonderful rose bush outside my front door that I brought to AZ from CA this is its 3rd season with me.  It was in a pot but I transplanted it last May and it is very happy and has grown greatly.  However, every season I have owned it this rose has developed a severe case of spider mites.  Before arriving in AZ this time last year practically all its leaves fell off despite my attempts to get rid of the mites.  As is typical for spider mites they prefer the older leaves and attack those first.  So far I have used an insecticidal soap and this weekend used Neem oil.  The plants still look to be infested.  The neem oil says to use weekly but I'm worried that in 7 days my rose will be over run.
 
Any suggestions?  I really don't want all the leaves to fall off now it is in pride of place outside my front door.
 
Clair
 
 
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