spider mite food

[jxm]

Grrrrrr.... just noticed that there are red spider mites all over my aubergene plant, although there don't seem to be any on the pepper or chilli plants sitting next to it. so that leaves me with 2 questions -

1) where the heck do they come from??? I've had the plant for ages so pretty sure they didn't come with it, and nothing else new.

2) what do they eat/attack? are they avoiding the pepper and chillie plant because they don't like them? or have are they just waiting til they've killed the aubergence completely before moving to the next victim...?

[bramble]

Don't know too much about them but they will munch your peppers cucs tomatoes that i know of. Don't know where yours came from but make sure your greenhouse is well ventilated and damp it down if it gets too hot. They thrive in humid hot conditions. Also make sure the air is circulating freely around your greenhouse.

[Bugeyes]

Hello JXM - spider mite will attack chillies and peppers as well but the damage will take longer to show through the leaf. Aubergines are a complete pest magnet, evreything loves them! Spray diluted fairy liquid underneath the leaves every couple of days and you will kill loads. You might want to do a chemical treatment as spider mite will start to go into a type of hibernation this month and once they have gone into the structure of the greenhouse you can't get to them!

[jxm]

make sure your greenhouse is well ventilated and damp it down if it gets too hot. They thrive in humid hot conditions.

But if I damp it down it would get more humid...?

[nick the grief]

Hi JXM,

They like Hot Dry conditions so damp down.

[jxm]

Hi JXM,

They like Hot Dry conditions so damp down.

Unfortunately my grape vine doesn't seem to like the damp conditions and is getting mildew on the leaves (see bubble creature thread)... I just can't win...

[bramble]

But if I damp it down it would get more humid...?

Sorry, that was meant to be "they thrive in hot dry conditions" Comes from not reading through a thread before posting.

[nick the grief]

Hi JXM,

Is it powdery mildew you;ve got on your vine as that likes it hot & dry as well.

[jxm]

Is it powdery mildew you;ve got on your vine

Don't know, check out the photo in the bubble creature thread in the fruit forum...

as that likes it hot & dry as well

the vine or the mildew?

[nick the grief]

Powdery Mildew like it hot & dry & yes it looks like Powdery mildew on your vine.

You can treat it with some bordeaux mix if you want (copper sulphate & lime) & spray it on. You could try just lime & water if you want that may work, just give it loads of air movement & damp down as much as you can in hot weather.