The short summer weather of March 2012 is over and April is back to typical zone 4 weather. Unless our weather turns on a dime again, it will be two months before I could even think of moving this tuberose outside. It doesn't look too bad from a distance, but a closer look tells the tale.
The tuberose plants have spider mites again! We are not talking a few spider mites. The little buggers are everywhere.
I knew when I bought these plants in 2008 that they would not be happy here. In all the time they have been here the plants flowered only once. I have been fighting this disgusting bug battle all winter this year. Now it has come down to this. I have other plants to consider. Plants I love that actually do pretty well here. I have lemon verbena plants and cuttings that look like they will survive to spend the summer in the garden.
It has become clear that the spider mite infestation starts with the most unhappy plants. So today is the day that I screwed up my courage and for the greater good sent the tuberose and their spider mites to the cold, down to 22 degrees tonight, compost pile. It's cruel I know and was a hard choice to make. I'm sending these plants to certain death. I hope it's quick and they don't suffer. If the spider mites suffer that's fine by me. I've had enough!!!
5 comments:
Sometimes we have to end relationships...I was yanking out some plants and bushes that just weren't putting out their best effort and if they were going to take up space they best grow, bloom and produce something for the critters or out you go!!
Oh dear ... I know how you feel. Those Spider Mites are HORRIBLE things to deal with. I think my Tuberoses met the same fate...
I'm the same - it's so hard to throw plants away, for some reason, even if all they give us are heartaches. Someone should write a Country and Western song about it...
Twice a week, i spray my curry leaf plants liberally with an organic rose spray. Seems to do the trick.
I put my curry leaf plant outside and ignored it. Now it seems to be doing fine. Peace/Piece of mind, exactly what kind of rose spray do you use on yours?
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