I believe that one person had a problem with submersion in hot water. May or may not have done it correctly, however, I did the water dunk @111 degrees with no harm to the plant. But I found that heating up the grow room to 117-120 degrees will kill mites with ABSOLUTELY NO HARM TO THE PLANTS. I limited exposure to these temps to 45 minutes. This was done three times with no ill effects, except to the mites.
I also used Avid, but they kept coming back, as Avid does not kill eggs like Forbid does.
The heat treatment does work, as evidenced by the nurseries and greenhouses that use that method, albeit with different plants/veggies.
I am not making this stuff up:
http://compendium.bayercropscience....Polyphagotarsonemus_latus.htm?open&ccm=200010
"As broad mites are very sensitive to heat, hot water treatment (45-50°C; 113 - 122°F for 15 minutes) of plants before they are transferred into a greenhouse may prevent the introduction of the pest."
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/broad_mite.htm
"In addition, hot water treatments may be used to control the mites without injuring the plants. This involves lowering the plant into water held at 43 to 49° C (109.4-120.2°F) for 15 minutes."
http://www.ehow.com/how_8680538_combat-broad-mites.html
"Fill a leak-proof container with water that is 109 to 111 degrees. Use a cooking thermometer to test the water before beginning treatment, as temperatures above 111 degrees may cause damage. Make sure that the chosen container is deep enough to submerge all of the affected plant's foliage.
Submerge the entire plant in the hot water and allow it to remain there for no more than 15 minutes. Broad mites are susceptible to heat and can't survive submersion at these temperatures."
Note it said that temps above 111 may damage plants. So that may be the problem, as other sites recommended even higher temps, as cited above.
In my research, I came upon another remedy that sounds really good, although I have not personally tried it yet, but I will be getting some. It's a product called "Antistress". It is a polymer coating sprayed on the plants, which the mites cannot penetrate. It does not harm the plants or keep them from "breathing" (transpiring). It can be found here:
http://www.polymerag.com/
Quote from a user:
"I had been battling mites all year long. I saw where roses that were sprayed with it did not get mites. So the quest was on. I still have close to 75 out of 100 plants. they were constantly dropping leaves and had mites. I had tried everything.
Well we are 2 months and have not even seen 1 mite. The polymer film sprayed on the plant may have done what I was hoping for. It made a barrier that the tiny mites could not penetrate. It made my plants hold their leaves and did not harm them in any way.
I used anti stress 2000, I am sure they are all good but the 2000 went a lot further and was in stock locally. I have used 1/2 quart and sprayed everything on my growing area from vegtables to brugs with no ill effects. I did spray a few plants with mites when I started using it. It stopped them in their tracks and had no further infestation to date. None of the commercial sprays from systemics to neem oil has done even 1/10 as good. I am still going on the original sprays. I tried it on everything once a small test was done on different plants and types for a month. I sprayed everything twice in a week period. I sprayed vegetables, NBJ, Plumeria, cannas, roses, vines, Hybiscus, trees, day lillies, rubber trees, Honeysuckle, Plumbago, and about another 10-15 types of plants. I sprayed everything in my growing area. Zero ill effects and many positive effects other than mites and fungus control.
I live in a perfect mite environment where they can breed and multiply 10 months out of the year and their populations not be harmed by cold weather. I had 3 choices: solve the problem, cut my numbers down to maybe 15-20 plants, or quit growing them. The polymer smothers them and makes a barrier that is almost impossible for them to penetrate. It is a mite specific solution.
Also needing some research is ability of the polymer to carry and incorporate into its barrier items like Avid,Forbid, pepper extracts, IGR's and systemics for a total control of all sucking and chewing insects. I have found enough of a solution to my mite problem that it has made growing brugs on the same level as normal vegetables.
I am at the end of 8 week label protection period. It is 90+ and all my brugs are flowering. This is when they usually attack. I have not found 1 infected leaf yet. I was sacking up a plastic Wal-mart bag daily to the top with leaves before using a polymer. I am going to see just how long I can stretch it out. There are plenty of new unprotected leaves and flowers. I still have 1/2 a bottle left and it will cover 1 acre and spraying all my plants twice about $ 8.00 for 2 months of protection. I like it.
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/brug/msg090328378869.html
This sounds very promising/exciting. I had never heard of this before and don't know anyone who has tried it, but I will be ordering some for sure.
Sounds like the "Holy Grail" if it works. Hopefully someone here will try it and report back. I would test it on a single plant first, and, obviously, only in veg.
One other point: Broad/Cyclamen/Russett mites love flowers, and they are often transferred that way. Cut flowers are a "no-no" in your grow house. If your wife or girlfriend wants cut flowers in the "house", I would say "absolutely not".
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- That's love right there....
