AusBonsai

Hi everyone, just bought a Japanese bloodgood maple off eBay,
The tree is beautiful but after unwrapping it and giving it a good water I noticed there was an ant nest in the soil.
After some googling I went back for a better look and it has scales,mealybug as well

Seller told me the tree must have got it from the logistic centre at Aus post lol

Anyway I'm very inexperienced but after googling again I decided to submerge the pot in the sink for a couple of hours to drown all those ants then I just sprayed it (soaked the leaves & trunk) with Yates pest oil.

Now I'm paranoid I maybe done the wrong thing

If any of you guys could ease my mind or set me straight I would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance

Ross

did it come from a distant area(interstate)--if so I would be making sure all those ants and pests were all killed asap.god knows what else is in the soil mix

I think the combination of pest oil and direct sunlight has the potential to damage your plants...leave it shaded.

You only avoid using oil on conifers - it will not hurt a maple. Very much doubt it could pick up pests in transit

Guy wrote:did it come from a distant area(interstate)--if so I would be making sure all those ants and pests were all killed asap.god knows what else is in the soil mix

I'm in Melbourne, This tree came from Sydney.
Im a little worried, are you saying I'm not welcome at your place to show you the plant ?

Isitangus wrote:I think the combination of pest oil and direct sunlight has the potential to damage your plants...leave it shaded.

How long should I leave it in the shade for ?
A day or 2 ?

Does the pestoil container say anything about hot days or sun?
When using other oil based sprays overnight is usually enough to let the oil break down. A day or 2 should be plenty to prevent any possible leaf burn.
Mealybug might need something stronger than pestoil. There are usually some of them on the roots as well as above the ground. When i see mealybug I use a systemic insecticide to make sure they are all dead.

Unless it took two months to get to you, that ants nest was there when it was posted. The parcels do not sit long enough for them to settle in. Then to have mature scale and mealy bugs would also take time.

Systemics, is always a better option when ants and scale are involved.

Cheers Pup

yes I agree with pup. You should complain and seek compensation from the person you purchased it from.

Pup wrote:Unless it took two months to get to you, that ants nest was there when it was posted. The parcels do not sit long enough for them to settle in. Then to have mature scale and mealy bugs would also take time.

Systemics, is always a better option when ants and scale are involved.

Cheers Pup

He posted Monday and I had it Wednesday morning......
Aus post must have a serious pest problem hahaha
The guy isn't taking responsibility so ill have to just deal with it and keep it on the other side of my yard

Pardon my ignorance but I really have no idea.
What brand of systemics do you recommend ?
Also how long should I wait before applying more pesdecide ?

Thanks for your replies

Ross

stocaz wrote:

Pup wrote:Unless it took two months to get to you, that ants nest was there when it was posted. The parcels do not sit long enough for them to settle in. Then to have mature scale and mealy bugs would also take time.

Systemics, is always a better option when ants and scale are involved.

Cheers Pup

He posted Monday and I had it Wednesday morning......
Aus post must have a serious pest problem hahaha
The guy isn't taking responsibility so ill have to just deal with it and keep it on the other side of my yard

Pardon my ignorance but I really have no idea.
What brand of systemics do you recommend ?
Also how long should I wait before applying more pesdecide ?

Thanks for your replies

Ross

If you paid by PayPal complain, as they are not what you ordered, if you paid by credit card cancel until you receive some recompense.
Confidor, is a good systemic insecticide

Cheers Pup

Ok thanks for that I might just wait a week and then apply some confidor then.
Fingers crossed.

Thanks Ross

Of course they can do that. Some of these are very harmful for maple.