would you take it
 

Someone wants to donate an expensive gaudy-colored nepenthes to my greenhouse, but he discovered it has spider mites and will wait till he "treats" it. The last thing I want to introduce into my greenhouse is spider mites! Is there any sure way to test a plant during an isolation period to make sure they are gone? I know they are hard to eliminate, most people just control them. Plus they might be resistant if he has had a longstanding problem with his collection due to poor growing conditions. I assume he wants to give it a better home because his conditions are not right for the plant to thrive. I would hate to pass it up if I am just paranoid and an easy test is available. Thanks

Easiest test I have found is take a piece of paper (white) . Tap on the leaves, as well as run it along the bottom of the leaves fold the paper closed and when you open it up if you see red dots its spider mites....now with carnivorous plants I am absolutely at a loss because my butterwort says NOTHING but distilled ro water etc....so I am not sure how one might get rid of them on it......good luck I would love a nepanthe just not right temps here!

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:48 PM ----------

Little monsters attacked my gardenia this past winter

The nepenthes leaves are rather firm and glossy, and the cups can be cut off instead of treated-they die and regrow in cycles anyway. I also can't imagine spraying anything on a butterwort. I would hope its leaves would just digest the beasts. My city water is "good" and my butterwort has no problems with it. One less hassle. I guess with the spider mites, I worry that it looks clean upon acceptance, but eggs or one hidden mite might be lurking. And each time I retreat it, eggs or one hidden mite might be lurking.

Is that a black orchid?

Keep it isolated for two weeks while you spray it with a miticide. nepenthes are nice plants. But make sure you treat it for at least two weeks before taking it into your growing area.

Thanks. I read that the mites mature fairly fast. Is it safe to use Bayer 3-in-1 on nepenthes. I know many people use it on orchids. Are you recommending two treatments over a two week period, or one treatment and then wait 2 weeks and search for any mites appearing after the two weeks, and if found, repeat?

Wouldn't expect your temps to be an issue with some of the lowland Nepenthes. Now a lack of humidity (if your area is arid) would be.

It should be. I have known cp'ers that do use it. It is a systemic, correct?

You need a miticide for mites and spiders. I don't know if 3-1 will work on mites. It shouldn't hurt the neps at all.

Yes it is a systemic, and yes it is usually very arid in my zone. Even with a humidifier going in one room it is still pretty dry.

The 3-in-1 is for fungus, mites, and insects. The fungus and insecticides are systemic, but I'm not sure if the chemical for mites is systemic or not.

Bayer 3 in 1 is a systemic.