AusBonsai

Hi all,

The below chinese elm is losing all new baby leaves as soon as they sprout after becoming yellow. In addition I noticed many leaves developing a powdery yellow look from last two days. It's in partial sun almost 6 hours a day. Still in training pot with once a month fertiliser, seasol and trace elements feed. Water it when the top soil is dry only. Still in training pot as waiting for winter repot. Please could you help identify what's causing the issue. Have pruned two times this summer once the shoots become 8 pairs of leaves trimming back to two. Hope I can stop the tree from further deteriorating since it's one of my favourite tree

Hi Mat , your tree has Spider mites . There are various treatments , I tend to use eco oil only because I use it on scale as well . You can use Neem oil and I have heard that a chilli spray works well as well . The mites tend to be on the underside of the leaves so spray it on the whole tree .

Yep looks like mites, especially if there is webbing on branches too

Thanks for the answers Sno & TimS.
Will give a spray of neem oil and if it doesn't go away in a few days might resort to nature's way pyrethrum spray. There are no webbings in the tree though yet.

On second thoughts my pyrethrum oil doesnt seem to work on mites and might have to get some Eco oil. Since I had sprayed pyrethrum against scale a few weeks ago. Never knew about Eco oil, thanks will get some.

I cleaned up spider mites on my junipers with Mavrik (not maverick, as spell check wants to change it to!!).

Thanks Phil. Wasnt aware about that pesticide option either. Will keep in mind if the neem option doesn't work.

Now worries whether the infestation has spread to the plants nearby and there are quite a lot of them

Throw a respirator and PPE gloves/ glasses and coveralls on with Mavrik, one of the ones I use at work and not one to play around with

If it is mites they are tenacious little buggers. Whatever you use you will need several treatments every few weeks to get new hatchings and any you missed with the first sprays.

Thanks Tim and shibui. I might stick with neem and eco oil since I don't have the gear for harsh sprays. Will follow up every 5 days and see if they will disappear. From the need oil spray this morning it already looks better I think. While shopping at bunnings also came across white oil and natrasoap. Have you tried those by any chance and know if they work?

White oil is a bit harsher than eco oil . Natrasoap will work too . Mites are fairly easy to get rid of just follow the instructions on what ever you end up using . They have come from somewhere close to your tree so you may get a reinfestation from time to time . Once you know what the symptoms ( that leaf discolouration) it’s just a matter of management .

Position, position, position. Plenty of sun and air movement is important.

All the other advice is good too,

Grant