Re: Gardener's dance routines - Free LEWISIA

Dot - 

I have not "yet" had to fight the spider mites...but your question has 
promted me to look through my many books.  I have used dish soap water for 
things like aphids and mealy bugs and that does seem to work.

I will inform you of what my research has found...remember I have not 
actually used any of these methods but maybe you will get some feed back 
about these suggestions that will help.

In a question/answer book....it reads as follows:

Q:   Last summer, my garden was overrun by spider mites.  Is there something 
I can  
       use on my soil to kill any eggs before planting this spring?

A:    If you have to use a plant medications (insecticide), use any of the 
all-purpose
       sprays containing Malathion, Methoxychlor, or Sevin.  Or, if you want 
to go 
       natural, use Rotenone or a pyrethrin based spray.

I know some people do not like Jerry Baker but I find some of his tonics very 
helpful....the one he has for insect control for a veggie garden is as 
follows:

     1 c   Liquid dish soap
     1 c   Antiseptic Mouthwash 
     1 c   Chewing Tobacoo Juice (3 fingers tobacco in nylon stocking
             to 1 gal hot water till dark brown in color)
     fill the balance of the sprayer with warm water

Put this in a 20 gallon hose-end sprayer and spray after 7pm every other week

Spray your garden to the point of run-off.  If insects continue, add liquid 
Sevin to this tonic at the recommended rate for general insects, and Bacillus 
thuringiensis (Bt) for caterpillars.  You can also mix 6 teaspoons of 
Tomato/Vegetable Dust (made into a paste first) instead of Sevin.


After ridding yourself of these little critters, if you give your garden a 
bath (dish soap and water) every 10 to 14 days they will not return....this I 
have learned from an orchid grower.

I hope some of this information might help.

Oh - one more thing---when ever I use a Jerry Baker tonic, I always buy 
generic or the cheapest ingredients possible and they work fine for me.

Kemberly McLain
Katy, Texas  Zone 9

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