Should I convert to S/H now or wait?

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by CatherineSmith

Hi! How is your Millenium Magic doing in S/H?

Hi! It's my first Catasetinae, but I think everything is going well. It has a lot of new roots and it's growing really fast, but I'm kind of worried because it's been producing an enormous amount of honeydew on the underside of its leaves and I've never seen something like that and I'm not sure if that's a bad thing.

[CatherineSmith]

Did you give it a rest with watering during the winter? I'm worried about converting because of the dormant period it can go through. Glad to hear it's going well!!

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by CatherineSmith

Did you give it a rest with watering during the winter? I'm worried about converting because of the dormant period it can go through. Glad to hear it's going well!!

I put it in LECA with no water during its winter rest, and started to fill up the reservoir when the roots were 2-3 inches long. It's never had a winter rest in S/H so I can't really offer you any advice yet. I'm planning on drying up the water reservoir during its winter rest, and I believe a lot of people here have been successful doing the same. The only advice I can give you right now is: make the reservoir a little bigger, these guys are SO thirsty!

[Roberta]

Catasetinae have a big spider mite issue, and that honeydew on the undersides of the leaves may be evidence of the start of it. You should spray with a miticide (I don't know what products are available to you so can't be specific) Not insecticide... mites are arachnids and need different pesticides. You can smother them with the soap/oil approach but you will need to repeat and repeat. Pyrethrins I think work on mites but I'm not sure. But do stay on top of the problem.

[marcmaubert]

Originally Posted by Roberta

Catasetinae have a big spider mite issue, and that honeydew on the undersides of the leaves may be evidence of the start of it. You should spray with a miticide (I don't know what products are available to you so can't be specific) Not insecticide... mites are arachnids and need different pesticides. You can smother them with the soap/oil approach but you will need to repeat and repeat. Pyrethrins I think work on mites but I'm not sure. But do stay on top of the problem.

Oh, I thought it was "happy sap", it tastes sweet. But I'll be on the lookout anyway, thank you!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by marcmaubert

Oh, I thought it was "happy sap", it tastes sweet. But I'll be on the lookout anyway, thank you!

Precisely, it is sweet... sap from the plant that the little nasties are munching on, poking holes in cells and letting the sugar leak out so they can eat it. They are very tiny - I suggest not waiting until you see more evidence (such as whitish underside of leaves) ... by that time you may have a serious infestation.