Bamboo Mites

Bamboo mites present themselves in tiny webs , sucking chlorophyll from underneath the leaf . They're always out there, blowing around in the wind and are a minor nuisance to the health of your bamboo. Left unchecked they can become an infestation and cause visual damage to the grove. These spider relatives are a common Northwest pest that can be reasonably controlled by various means.

- Blasting the leaves often with a high pressure nozzle or power sprayer is an easy preventative measure, destroying the fragile bodies and preventing the onslaught of colonization.

- An easy, non-toxic topical spray consisting of:

1. two teaspoons of liquid dish washing soap
2. two tablespoons of any vegetable cooking oil, new or used
3. one gallon of water

can be applied with a hose sprayer set to 2.5 0z per gallon every few weeks. Tobacco, peppers, garlic,etc can be added but the initial solution is effective in eliminating colonies and preventing establishment. My plants have been remarkably mite free this year but this is my first course of action when they try and move in.

- Applications of systemic poison is an effective means to destroy entire colonies of mites. I hate to use soil toxins but usually apply a dose to new plants and species especially prone to infestations. Bayer 2+1 Rose Care is inexpensive and available at garden centers.

- Culm removal helps thin leaf matter and opens the grove, allowing the above remedies to be more effective. Sometimes, if a grove has been too neglected or damaged, cutting back the entire grove and eradicating the infested vegetation is the best option. If the grove is established, it will grow back again in the spring.

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