dying silk tree with bugs
Since last November I've been raising silk trees, albizia, from a bonsai seed kit and now one remains. It's gotten big but the leaves are dying and soon it will have three branches left. The light and watering is fine but it has little crawly bugs in the dirt. They are small, white or brown, and I don't see them on the leaves but those are dying one by one. I got an insecticide spray and have been using it once or twice a week for three weeks. Nothing is helping and although it tries to grow new leaves they die soon after. What else can I do to save it? Thanks
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- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 4659
- Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:58 pm
- Location: Victoria, BC
The insectiside should be discontinued as it can do more damage to your tree than the insects in some cases. Also, what you have now done is killed all of the beneficial micro-organisms and small macro-fauna that were growing on your tree. These fauna keep disease organisms at bay.
A better solution to a broad based insecticide would be a weekly dose of neem oil.
Though, I would also recommend a seekly misting of compost tea to get those beneficial organisms back up in number.
A better solution to a broad based insecticide would be a weekly dose of neem oil.
Though, I would also recommend a seekly misting of compost tea to get those beneficial organisms back up in number.