Yellow Leaves at Growth Stem

[Spartanburg123]

Added some dilute vinegar today, along with some Miracle Grow tomato food. I hope they start to recover.

[dmforcier]

How dilute? It doesn't take much to go too acidic.

[Spartanburg123]

Just 20 mL or so in a half gallon. I was conservative with the titration

[gdaddybill]

Looks a bit like glyphosate drift damage. Have you been spraying Roundup on a windy day?

[Spartanburg123]

I'm not sure that these plants are going to make it! The growth stems are yellow and appear to have stopped growing. This is most unfortunate, as I was looking forward to growing out this PL variant of Dotson's Lebanese Heart that Dutch had sent! Any suggestions on how to save these guys? I have hit them with fertilizer, added a little vinegar. etc. Thanks!

Darin

[ginger2778]

I have your answer. Look at the stem in your bottom photo, and the stippled pattern on the leaves that aren't yet whitened. See the webs? SPIDER MITES ! Better get some pyrethrin, permethrin, or neem sprayed on them. They are tough, but you can win this war. First, take a hose spray to them with forcible spray, under and over every leaf, and entire stems. Then you need to thoroughly spray the neem ,pyr. or permethrin thoroughly under,and over, stem, and soak the soil well with it. The adults will die, but new eggs will hatch quickly, so this needs to be repeated every 4 days for 3 times, then once per week to ten days as a continued preventive. Darin, if using neem, make sure it is not in the heat of the day.
Got a magnifier at least 14X or a microscope? You will see them.
Mites are famous for mimicking an iron deficiency look.

[Spartanburg123]

Really? Spider mites? It's only on these two plants, which are in pots and sitting next to each other. I've never had insects like that. Can they totally yellow the leaves and stop growth?
Thanks!

Darin

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Spartanburg123

Really? Spider mites? It's only on these two plants, which are in pots and sitting next to each other. I've never had insects like that. Can they totally yellow the leaves and stop growth?
Thanks!

Darin

They absolutely can, and you absolutely have them. Not even a question. Nothing else makes that stippled speckled yellowing pattern, and the webs are your second proof.

[Spartanburg123]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

They absolutely can, and you absolutely have them. Not even a question. Nothing else makes that stippled speckled yellowing pattern, and the webs are your second proof.

In case I haven't said it lately, you are a Godsend! I will stop and get some Permethrin on the way home. I do have some Neem oil- I actually sprayed all of the plants last week with it (2 tablespoons in a gallon of water). But I guess these mites don't mess around! Are they soil borne, or can they travel by wind or air to other plants?

Thanks Marsha!!

Darin

[RayR]

Now seeing a closeup of the bottom of the leaves, I think Ginger may be right on. That's where they will be, on the bottom of the leaves eating away. Yes, they will totally yellow the leaves and stop growth. Better do as she says because if they are there, they will spread to other plants.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Spartanburg123

In case I haven't said it lately, you are a Godsend! I will stop and get some Permethrin on the way home. I do have some Neem oil- I actually sprayed all of the plants last week with it (2 tablespoons in a gallon of water). But I guess these mites don't mess around! Are they soil borne, or can they travel by wind or air to other plants?

Thanks Marsha!!

Darin

Thank you, sir! Thry are extremely tiny spiders basically. They can crawl pretty fast, so if one plant touches the other, they crawl onto it. Wind can carry them too. I don't know if they are soil borne, but can definitely infest the soil area once they arrive. Every 4 days for 3 times, don't stop even if things look improved. And you won't get them all even then, now it's not a matter of irradication, just very good control. I would move them far from any other plants right now, and spray any thst are near every 4 days for 3 times too.
Spider mites love indoors plants in containers too.

[ddsack]

Spider mites love indoors plants in containers too. __________________
Marsha

Yes they do! My dear husband gave me a potted miniature rose for Valentines Day which I put in my bay window with other plants until I could plant it outside. It looked in perfect shape when I got it, but about 3 weeks later the dreaded speckled leaves started to appear. So whatever they were spraying it with at the nursery wore off and hidden eggs hatched or spider population boomed. I put it outside in the cold, and hope the dratted bugs didn't spread to my other plants.

Hope you can treat your tomatoes successfully, Darin. Great to have a resource like Marsha. I've never had problems with spider mites outdoors, so never would have guessed that from the pictures of the very white areas on the leaves.

[Sun City Linda]

I get something like the op shows in the first pix frequently. Sometimes I apply iron or magnesium. Sometimes it self corrects, or not but it always goes away after plant out in bigger pots. I have had issues with tomato russet mites before. Spider mites, not so much, knocking on wood.

[Ricky Shaw]

I wonder how many people beside me will check for signs of spider mites today.

[Jimbotomateo]

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

I wonder how many people beside me will check for signs of spider mites today.

Everyone. . Jimbo