Frequently seen in vacation destinations in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Southern California, bougainvilleas evoke s of summer, beauty, and bliss.
Its not hard to see why theyre admired across the world. Its quite rare for a plant to be colorful and lush year-round (depending on the location, of course), drought tolerant, low maintenance, and highly trainable.
For growing as vines, hedges, and large topiaries here in Southern California, we love the Barbara Karst variety. Its a vigorously-growing bougainvillea that produces a profusion of bright, cheery magenta, even in the dry and hot summers. Its also salt and drought tolerant, great for coastal and desert areas alike.
Barbara Karst bougainvillea is a popular tropical flowering vine prized for its vibrant colorful bracts. However these gorgeous plants can fall victim to spider mites, a common garden pest. Spider mites are tiny arachnids that suck sap from plant leaves, causing stippling, discoloration, and leaf drop. Left uncontrolled, they can seriously weaken or even kill bougainvillea plants.
If you suspect spider mites are infesting your Barbara Karst bougainvillea, don’t panic Here are some highly effective, organic methods for getting rid of spider mites and restoring the health and beauty of your plant.
Identifying Spider Mites
Spider mites can be tough to spot with the naked eye due to their tiny size Adults measure only 1/50 of an inch (04 mm) in length. Typical signs of an infestation include
- Stippling on leaves – Tiny yellowish or white dots caused by mites sucking cell contents
- Webbing – Fine, silky webs on undersides of leaves where mites breed
- Leaf discoloration – Leaves turning yellow, bronze, or brown
- Leaf drop – Heavy mite feeding causes leaf loss
- Declining plant health – Growth slows, branches die back
To confirm spider mites are present, shake a leaf over white paper. Tiny red, yellow, or green dots moving on the paper indicate mites. Check leaf undersides with a magnifying glass to spot the mites directly. They often congregate along veins.
Use Water to Dislodge Spider Mites
A forceful spray of water can help dislodge and destroy many spider mites while being harmless to your bougainvillea. Focus the spray on the undersides of leaves and in branch forks where mites hide. Repeat every few days until mites are under control.
Apply Insecticidal Soap
Insecticidal soap is a natural, organic pesticide that kills mites on contact while being safe for plants. Mix according to label directions and thoroughly spray leaf tops and undersides. Apply weekly for 2-3 weeks until mites are gone. Insecticidal soap disrupts mites’ cell membranes and dehydrates them.
Use Neem Oil for Long-Lasting Control
Extracted from the neem tree, neem oil smothers spider mites while also deterring re-infestation. It contains azadirachtin, an organic compound that disrupts mites’ growth and reproduction. Mix neem oil concentrate with water per label instructions and spray on the bougainvillea, including leaf undersides, stems, and branch forks. The oil’s residual activity continues working for weeks.
Apply Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a natural mineral dust that desiccates and kills soft-bodied insects like mites. Sprinkle a thin layer of food-grade DE on the soil around your bougainvillea. As mites crawl through it, the sharp DE particles scratch their bodies, causing dehydration and death. Re-apply DE after rain or watering.
Introduce Predatory Mites
Releasing predatory mites can provide natural, ongoing spider mite control. Predatory mites such as Phytoseiulus persimilis feed on pest mites without harming plants. They can keep spider mite populations in check once introduced. Apply predatory mites early in the growing season or at first signs of spider mites.
Prune Infested Areas
If spider mites are concentrated on a few branches, simply prune those branches off at their base. Remove them from the site and destroy them to prevent mites from spreading. Sterilize pruning shears in a 1:9 bleach solution after each cut to prevent spreading mites plant-to-plant.
Use Sticky Traps
Yellow and blue sticky traps attract adult spider mites, capturing them on the adhesive surface so they can’t continue breeding and laying eggs. Position several traps near infested bougainvillea plants to catch traveling mites. Check traps frequently and replace as they fill up.
Maintain Vigilant Monitoring
Early detection and intervention are key to effective spider mite control. Examine bougainvillea leaves closely each week – especially the undersides – for any signs of infestation. Catching an issue before it escalates makes treatment much easier. Monitor daily during hot, dry weather when mites thrive.
Promote Plant Health
A vigorous, healthy bougainvillea is better equipped to withstand spider mite attacks. Provide adequate water, nutrition, sunlight, and pruning to keep your plant robust. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilization, which can spur excess growth attractive to pests. Growing in containers? Ensure good drainage.
Quarantine Infested Plants
If one bougainvillea plant has spider mites, isolate it from other plants immediately. Keep it in a separate greenhouse or room so mites cannot crawl to neighboring plants. Sterilize hands, pruners, and other tools after handling the infested plant to avoid spreading mites.
Getting rid of spider mites on barbara karst bougainvillea requires persistence. Apply at least 2-3 treatments 7-10 days apart to kill newly hatched mites, as most products don’t kill eggs. Maintain vigilance and be prepared to treat again at the first signs of reinfestation. With dedication to an integrated pest management plan, you can protect your bougainvillea’s health and keep it thriving.
Barbara Karst Bougainvillea Propagation
Take 4 to 8 inch cuttings from the tip and plant in soil.
Barbara Karst Bougainvillea Appearance
Barbara Karst Bougainvillea is mainly prized for its bright, magenta bracts.
Bracts are modified leaves that look like flowers from far away. The bracts of the bougainvillea are thin with dry, papery texture, and hold up very well to intense sunlight. The actual flowers, found amongst the bracts, are tiny, white, and tubular, and attract butterflies.
Enjoy the showy blooms year round in frost free areas. This evergreen plant blooms from spring to fall in many parts of California that experience brief periods of frost.
The leaves of this bougainvillea have wavy margins and are a slightly dark shade of green, which accentuate the vivid reddish-pink bracts.
The stems are woody and thorny.
Height when mature is 20 to 40 feet.
Super Simple Spider Mite Control and Prevention
FAQ
How to get rid of spiders on bougainvillea?
How do I get rid of spider mites on my mandevilla?
What is the best treatment for spider mites?
Can a plant recover from spider mites?
How to get rid of spider mites on Bougainvillea?
Some of the most effective remedies you can do at home are the following. All infested foliage should be pruned immediately. Don’t try to save the leaves that are being eaten by these buggers. Cut them off right away to prevent the spider mites from further infesting your bougainvillea. Be careful not to cross-contaminate.
How do I get rid of spider mites in my garden?
Space plants properly: Make sure that each plant has enough room to grow and receive adequate light, water, and air circulation. Avoid over-potting: Don’t plant seedlings in containers that are too large. Doing so can lead to a soil that stays too moist, which is an ideal environment for spider mites.
How do I prevent and control spider mite infestations?
In general, it’s important to monitor for signs of spider mite infestations and take appropriate action to prevent and control these pests to minimize the damage they cause to plants. Yes, keeping your plants healthy is one of the key ways to prevent and control spider mite infestations. Here’s how:
Do spider mites kill plants?
Spider mites (Tetranychus spp.) are tiny pests that can damage and kill plants. What are Spider Mites? Spider mites are tiny, eight-legged pests that feed on the sap of plants. They are related to spiders and are considered to be a type of arachnid.