I've noticed some kind of bugs on my knockout roses. They're really tiny like some kind of mite or something. My flowers turn brown and die when I see these on them. What can I spray on them to get rid of them?
Thanks
Celia
I think the bugs are brown or orange color (not sure because they are so small)
They could be red spider mites. Do you see any webbing, similar to spider webs? That's a tell-tale sign of them. If that's what you have, spraying the plant(s) with a solution of 2 or 3 teaspoons of soap to 1 quart of water should eradicate them. Spray the plant until the solution is dripping off. Spray from all directions, so you get the tops and undersides of all the leaves and all sides of the stems and branches. Reapply the spray every 5 to 7 days. Four thorough applications should do the trick.
The spray has to be repeated because it won't kill any eggs, so when those hatch, you'll have a new generation of mites. Also, mites feed by sucking the sap from the plant, not eating the leaves, so insecticides that leave a coating on the leaves won't affect the mites. The soap spray will kill any soft-bodied insects on your plants, but only on direct contact.
I use Dr. Bronner's Unscented liquid soap, but any real soap should work fine. Do check the label to make sure that whatever product you use is a soap and not a detergent. Ivory, Murphy's Oil soap, shavings from a bar of Castile soap ... those are just a few suggestions.
The spray has to be repeated because it won't kill any eggs, so when those hatch, you'll have a new generation of mites. Also, mites feed by sucking the sap from the plant, not eating the leaves, so insecticides that leave a coating on the leaves won't affect the mites. The soap spray will kill any soft-bodied insects on your plants, but only on direct contact.
I use Dr. Bronner's Unscented liquid soap, but any real soap should work fine. Do check the label to make sure that whatever product you use is a soap and not a detergent. Ivory, Murphy's Oil soap, shavings from a bar of Castile soap ... those are just a few suggestions.