Question
Hi- A few weeks ago I emailed you about a problem I was having with my schefflera. SInce, I have been diligently treating the plant with regular blasts of cold water and occasionally w/castile soap, diluted. My follow up questions are: how will I know when the mites are officially gone? When can I take my plant out of segregation?  For that matter, is there anything I should do on a regular basis as prevention against another infestation?

Thanks again!

PS will the leaves affected by the mites ever look normal again????  

Answer
Hi Adrienne,

That doesn't sound like my advice. Let me make a few corrections. There is no advantage to using cold water. Any soap will work fine.

The key is not sporadic treatment, but one or two very thorough spray-drenching with the soap spray. You must get all leaf and stem surfaces dripping wet. Otherwise, you will miss a few (or more) and they will reproduce and come back on you. It may be a bit messy, but it is effective!

There is no reason to quarantine your plant after you have given it a thorough treatment as I described above.

The best prevention is to inspect your plants regularly, checking the undersides of leaves for early signs of the mites. If you see a few, then treat them right away. Catching them early and treating the plant thoroughly is the best way to eradicate them completely.

Unfortunately, any damage already done to leaves will stay that way. If it is unsightly, then remove the affected leaves. New growth should be healthy and undamaged.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.
   
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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