Traps do not open

[lloyd]

You have to really have the plant right in front of your nose with a magnifying glass, a good one not the big one lens ones. You won't be able to see them in a planted terrarium unless you get inside.

[vraev]

I just got neem oil......I can't seem to find Bickel's recipe......can someone please tell me how to use it.....I got the concentrated neem oil.

[lloyd]

Hi Vraev, I know you're sick so here's a repost. You can use the search function, it works quite well. Note that this is for the pure Neem oil which is a waxy solid in the fridge (keeps better there) and an oil at room temperature. You may need more (or less?) of your Neem concentrate so try the stated amount and adjust according to results (plant toxicity versus pest suppression).

Here's Al Bickell's recipe:

1 litre water
2-3 cc Neem oil
few drops of Eucalyptus oil (for red-spider mite)
1 tbsp light mineral oil
5-6 drops dishwater detergent

Shake vigorously to suspend oils. Keep in fridge to keep fresh. Must be room temperature to keep Neem oil liquid. For scale use double the Neem concentration.

In my experience the normal strength is fine on Mexican pings and larger Sarracenia. The higher strength is toxic to VFT's and small Sarracenia but they do bounce back. I have never tried it on utrics. Sundews do not like it and I would be careful trying it on them.

[vraev]

damn! I need to buy those other oils now ......sheesh! alright...I guess I'll check walmart for something ..

How do u think plain neem oil would do?? diluted in water.

[lloyd]

Vraev, try Shoppers or Loblaws or any drugstore. You can find that stuff anywhere. Eucalyptus Oill may also be in a Health Food store and mineral oil in a hardware store. The eucalyptus oil is super-strong smelling so take some care with it. The Neem smells slightly like garlic so you may not want to use it in your bedroom before bedtime. I use it in my house and nobody complains. A good place to spray is a sink or tub that you can rinse afterward or put newspaper down. The mixture is completely non-toxic and you could drink it if you really wanted to.

[vraev]

should I take out the plant from the soil and then place it in a tub without soil and then spray it??? or can I just do it directly in the terrarium??

[vraev]

BTW...I actually love the smell of eukalyptus.

[lloyd]

Well it depends on how much work you want to do. I think the added trauma of bare-rooting and spraying might not be a good idea. Perhaps just taking the plant with it's soil-ball intact and putting it in a pot would be an easier alternative. Also it would avoid spraying unaffected plants. I usually wet the plant (all surfaces) with the spray and let the top of the soil get moist with it, too. Eucalyptus is a nice smell but the essential oil is super-strong and stays on your hands for hours.

[insectivore]

Vraev,
Before risking of loosing your plants are you sure you have mites or any other insect because if you don't you may be harming them more then helping them...
Cya

[lloyd]

If you can, move the plant into a pot so you can give it a close inspection with a magnifying loupe especially on any nooks and crannies on the plant. Look for tiny red mites or slightly elongated little guys, yellowy-brown-green (thrips).

[insectivore]

Mites aren't only red... They can be all sorts of colors... My neps had black...
Cya

[vraev]

technically I am not yet sure if there is actually a spider mite infestation....but i notice that another new trap is also warped like that one.

[insectivore]

It could be anything from not enough light to needing a dormancy... Anyway its your call!
Cya

[vraev]

alright guys...I'll see if I can do a dormancy. .....damn I hate dormancies. ....my plants haven't woken up!

[insectivore]

Like I've told you before... VFT's are easy to grow but when they have their fits I always seem to loose them...
Good Luck!
Cya